‘Those who think we should leave Labour, I disagree’: Labour Muslim candidate | Afzal Khan

“Being inside [Labour] gives you an opportunity to make that change.”

We sat down with Afzal Khan, a prominent Muslim member of the UK’s Labour Party and the candidate for Manchester Rusholme, to discuss the anger and anti-Labour sentiment within the Muslim community and beyond regarding Labour's stance on Gaza.

Khan, first elected as an MP in 2017 and re-elected in 2019, made headlines in November when he and several other MPs resigned from the shadow cabinet to vote for a Gaza ceasefire in parliament, defying Keir Starmer and the Labour leadership.

Recent reports indicate that Labour lost a third of its vote share in Muslim-majority areas during the recent local elections, likely due to its stance on Israel's war on Gaza.

Timestamps:
00:00 Intro
01:10 Resigning from shadow cabinet
10:16 What does resigning say about Muslims inside Labour?
14:26 Ever questioned your affiliations with Labour?
16:04 Are you satisfied with Labour’s Gaza stance?
16:42 Labour accused of complicity in Israel's war on Gaza
23:04 Muslim community's criticism towards Labour
27:12 should the UK continue arming Israel under Labour?
27:49 Thoughts on The Muslim Vote campaign
32:28 Independent candidates want to ‘punish Labour’
35:28 Response to calls to resign from Labour
37:15 Could Muslims finding a new political home?
39:59 Is Labour taking Muslim voters for granted?
41:34 Diane Abbott and Faiza Shaheen
45:02 What do your constituents say about Gaza?
47:14  Anger towards Labour members
50:09 A backbencher for the first time

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