A small English city north of bustling Manchester simply noticed two controversial pro-Gaza candidates flip seats held by the mainstream Labour Social gathering. Each candidates ran as independents within the Might 1 native elections.
Maheen Kamran, 18, received the Burnley Central East seat on the Lancashire County Council, whereas Azhar Ali received the place of county councillor for the Nelson East ward. The Telegraph noted that their victories might be a part of a rising development, following a slew of pro-Gaza candidates—together with former Labour chief Jeremy Corbyn—successful seats in final 12 months’s normal election.
Ali is a former Labour Social gathering member who was suspended from the get together and misplaced its backing over allegations of antisemitism throughout an election final 12 months. Labour initially supported Ali after he claimed that Israel “allowed” Hamas’ Oct. 7 bloodbath to happen as a pretext to invade Gaza, according to the BBC. He later apologized for making what he known as a “deeply offensive, ignorant and false” declare. Labour withdrew its help for Ali and later suspended him from the get together.

Labour candidate for Rochdale, Azhar Ali launches his by-election marketing campaign on Feb. 07, 2024 in Rochdale, England. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Photographs)
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The Board of Deputies of British Jews didn’t settle for Ali’s apology, calling his feedback “disgraceful and unforgivable.”
“It’s clear to us that Mr. Ali is just not [apologizing] out of a real sense of regret. Regardless of what he says in his apology, we don’t see how we may probably interact with him at the moment, and we consider different main Jewish communal teams will really feel equally,” the group wrote in a 2024 statement.

Break up picture of Hamas terrorists with civilian physique baggage. (Yousef Masoud/Majority World/Common Photographs Group and Amir Levy/Getty Photographs)
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In the meantime, Kamran has taken radical stances of her personal. She voted in favor of ending the “free mixing” of Muslim women and men in public areas.
“Muslim women aren’t actually snug with being concerned with Muslim males. I am positive we will have segregated areas, segregated gyms, the place Muslim girls do not must sacrifice their well being,” Kamran informed PoliticsHome.

Palestinians collect among the many rubble of buildings destroyed in the course of the Israeli offensive, amid a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, at Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza Strip, February 17, 2025. (REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa)
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In the identical interview, Kamran stated she entered politics as a result of she believes there’s a “genocide” happening in Gaza. Whereas critics of Israel’s military actions use the time period “genocide,” supporters of the Jewish state typically argue that Israel has the potential to destroy Gaza’s inhabitants however has chosen to not, thereby disputing the genocide declare.
Ali and Kamran’s victories come as mainstream events lose affect in native elections. The best-wing populist Reform UK Social gathering noticed main beneficial properties within the newest election, according to the Telegraph. In the meantime, regardless of its management of 10 Downing Road, Labour suffered losses within the latest native elections.
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