Will Muslims Become the Scapegoat for the Upcoming British Elections?

In the UK, the leading Muslim organization has issued a call to action for political figures, cautioning against the exploitation of minority groups as targets in the political discourse surrounding the upcoming national elections.

This admonition comes against a backdrop of heightened assaults on Islamic places of worship, incidents that have escalated following recent events in Gaza.

The appeal from the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) for a constructive approach to political engagement coincides with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s declaration that voters will head to the polls on July 4.

Diminishing Trust

The major political factions in Britain are currently grappling with diminishing trust among the Muslim electorate, a situation exacerbated by the persistent strife in Gaza.

Zara Mohammed, the MCB’s Secretary-General, implores political entities and their candidates to adopt an optimistic tone in their campaigns, to ensure the vilification of Muslims and other minorities, and to envision a future where every citizen of Britain can contribute positively.

This plea emerges in a climate where certain politicians and aligned media outlets have intensified their critical stance on Muslims, portraying them as internal adversaries and casting doubt on their entitlement to equal participation in the democratic process.

With the general election campaign underway, the MCB urges both politicians and the press to abstain from using Muslims as scapegoats for political gain, a practice they denounce as deplorable.

They argue that such behavior should be unequivocally condemned in order to cultivate a society that honors and respects the diversity of its constituents.

Findings from a recent survey conducted by HOPE not Hate indicate that a significant portion of Conservative Party affiliates perceive Islam as a menace to British cultural norms.

Concurrently, the Labour Party has witnessed a precipitous drop in support from Muslim Britons, a trend fueled by concerns over the party leader’s initial reaction to the conflict in Gaza.

Reflecting on the previous general election in 2019, the MCB leveled accusations at the Conservative Party for its apparent insensitivity to Islamophobic sentiments.

They highlighted an incident where a comparison made by then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson regarding Muslim women’s attire led to a surge in Islamophobic incidents.

Islamophobia Discourse

In 2021, an inquiry brought to light persistent anti-Muslim sentiment within a political party, and a separate analysis indicated predominantly negative UK media portrayals of Muslims and Islam.

Zara Mohammed highlighted the Gaza conflict as a significant concern among the UK’s Muslim population, alongside various local issues.

A surge in Islamophobic incidents by 356% was reported in March, with individuals facing harassment for their pro-Palestine stance amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict.

Interviews conducted by The Independent revealed Muslims experiencing hate crimes, such as property damage for displaying Palestinian flags, and a student facing questioning at school for wearing a Palestinian badge.

Scotland’s then-First Minister, Humza Yousaf, acknowledged in February the worsening issue of “deep-rooted, systemic and endemic” Islamophobia in the UK.

The MCB noted the diversity within British Muslim communities but pointed out shared concerns, particularly the situation in Gaza.

The MCB expressed a collective desire among Muslims and the broader British public to see an end to the violence, adherence to international law, and recognition of Palestinian statehood.

The MCB also mentioned domestic considerations influencing Muslim voters, such as combating racism, defining Islamophobia, preserving religious freedoms, ensuring safety at worship places, engaging with Muslim communities, addressing disparities in health and elderly care, supporting refugees and asylum seekers, and advocating for minority integration, fair media representation, and criminal justice reform.

Following these concerns, the government pledged over £117 million to safeguard mosques, Muslim educational institutions, and community centers from hate crimes for the next four years.

The Independent reported a warning from an MP regarding a surge in unreported Islamophobia incidents in March.

Both the Labour and Conservative parties were solicited for their input on the matter.

The London Mayor’s office has chosen not to comment on the issue.

Rebuilding Relationship

In an acknowledgment of the challenges ahead, Labour’s deputy campaign coordinator emphasized the need for the party to mend its relationship with Muslim voters. This comes in the wake of a perceived backlash stemming from the party’s stance on the conflict in Gaza.

Labour’s approach to the Israeli aggression on Gaza seems to have impacted its support base within Muslim communities during England’s local elections.

Ellie Reeves of Labour conceded that the party has considerable ground to cover in regaining trust before the upcoming general election. She stressed the importance of ensuring that voters are clear on the party’s stance.

An analysis by the BBC of 58 local council wards, where Muslims make up over 20% of the population, showed a 21% drop in Labour’s vote share compared to 2021, when most seats were last up for grabs.

This decline contrasts with Labour’s otherwise strong showing, where it gained more than 170 councilors and took control of eight councils.

The implications of this trend for a general election remain uncertain, with indications that the most significant declines in support are mostly confined to areas where Labour already had robust backing.

However, the reaction in London appeared to be less severe, where Sadiq Khan, the incumbent Labour mayor, had called for a ceasefire ahead of the party leadership.

In London boroughs with a Muslim population exceeding 15%, Labour’s vote increased by an average of three points, as opposed to a 4.5% increase in areas with a smaller Muslim demographic.

After extensive internal debate, Labour called for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza conflict in February.

Labour’s initial response to the outbreak of the war, which included calls for humanitarian pauses in the fighting, led to resignations within the party at the council level and from its frontbench last year.

The erosion of Labour’s vote share in Muslim-majority areas seems to have primarily benefited independent candidates.

Ali Milani, head of the Labour Muslim Network, warned that Labour’s position on Gaza could lead to significant electoral repercussions.

He expressed concern for Labour MPs in cities with substantial Muslim populations, such as Bradford, Birmingham, Leicester, parts of London, and Manchester.

The Green Party, which advocated for an “immediate ceasefire” shortly after the conflict began, saw an increase in its vote share from the previous year.

Co-leader Carla Denyer suggested that Labour’s position on the Gaza conflict was a breaking point for some supporters who were already disillusioned with the party’s policy reversals.