Record number of Muslims elected to UK parliament despite rising Islamophobia
Among those elected include 15 are from Labour, four as independents and two from Conservative tickets
Muslim Network TV Desk
LONDON (MNTV) – Despite an increase in Islamophobic sentiment, a record-breaking 25 Muslims have been elected to the House of Commons in the recent U.K. election.
Several Muslim free-Palestine candidates claimed former Labour strongholds.
Among these independents are Shockat Adam in Leicester South, Iqbal Mohamed in Dewsbury and Batley, Adnan Hussain in Blackburn, and Ayoub Khan in Birmingham Perry Barr.
This is a significant increase from 19 seats in 2019 and 15 in the 2017 election.
The UK’s Muslim population, which numbers 3.4 million, is electorally significant and far from a monolithic voting bloc.
A historic number of eight first-time Muslim candidates won parliamentary seats, marking a day of firsts for Labour and independent candidates.
Among those elected 15 are from Labour, four as independents and two from Conservative tickets.
Notable new Labour MPs include Sadik Al-Hassan in North Somerset, Abtisam Mohamed in Sheffield Central, and Zubir Ahmed in Glasgow South West.
The new parliament is set to be the most diverse in history, with 89 MPs from ethnic minority backgrounds, according to British Future.
Key victories and campaigns:
- Sadik Al-Hassan (Labour, North Somerset): Pharmacist Sadik Al-Hassan’s victory ended Conservative Liam Fox’s 32-year tenure, with Al-Hassan securing 19,138 votes. In his victory speech, he emphasized North Somerset’s desire for change and a better future. Al-Hassan has pledged to improve access to public services, focusing on rebuilding the NHS and social care systems.
- Abtisam Mohamed (Labour, Sheffield Central): Abtisam Mohamed, the daughter of a Yemeni steelworker, became the UK’s first Yemeni MP. She won the safe seat of Sheffield Central with 52.1% of the vote. Mohamed has vowed to advocate for peace and co-existence in the Middle East, emphasizing the importance of the Israel-Palestine conflict to her constituents.
- Zubir Ahmed (Labour, Glasgow South West): Transplant surgeon Zubir Ahmed won the Labour seat in Glasgow South West, defeating SNP’s Chris Stephens with 15,552 votes. Ahmed’s campaign focused on addressing the NHS’s challenges, reflecting his firsthand experiences in healthcare.
Impact of free-Palestine Support:
Muslim voters’ support for Gaza significantly influenced the election, with five independent candidates, including four Muslims, winning seats. The strength of free-Palestine campaigns was evident, particularly in constituencies like Ilford North, where British-Palestinian Leanne Mohamad narrowly lost to Labour’s Wes Streeting by 528 votes.
Muslim constituencies and electoral impact:
Accoridng to media reprots, there are 20 constituencies in the U.K. where more than 30% of the electorate are Muslims. All of these constituencies elected a Labour MP in 2019.
Among these, Birmingham Hodge Hill has the highest Muslim population at 62%, followed by Bradford West at 59%, Ilford South at 44%, and Leicester South at 32%.
List of Newly Elected Muslim MPs:
- Mohammad Yasin, Labour, re-elected, Bradford
- Rushanara Ali, Labour (F), re-elected, Bethnal Green and Bow
- Tahir Ali, Labour, re-elected, Birmingham, Hall Green
- Shabana Mahmood (F), Labour, re-elected, Birmingham, Ladywood
- Ayoub Khan, Independent, new member
- Yasmin Qureshi, Labour, re-elected, Bolton Southeast
- Imran Hussain, Labour, re-elected, Bradford East
- Naz Shah Akhtar (F), Labour, re-elected, Bradford West
- Zarah Sultana (F), Labour, re-elected, Coventry South
- Iqbal Mohamed Hussain, Independent, new member
- Naushabah Khan Parveen (F), Labour, new member
- Zubir Ahmed, Labour, new member
- Afzal Khan, Labour, re-elected, Manchester, Gorton
- Saqib Bhatti, Conservative, re-elected, Meriden
- Munira Wilson (F), Liberal Democrat, re-elected, Twickenham
- Rosena Allin-Khan Chantelle, Labour, re-elected, Tooting
- Nus Ghani (F), Conservative, re-elected, Wealden
- Abtisam Mohamed (F), Labour, new member
- Miatta Fahnbulleh (F), Labour and Co-operative, new member
- Sadik Al-Hassan Adam, Labour, new member
- Shockat Adam Patel, Independent, new member
- Rupa Huq Asha (F), Labour, re-elected, Ealing Central and Acton
- Adnan Hussain, Independent, new member
- Apsana Begum (F), Labour, re-elected, Poplar and Limehouse
- Nesil Caliskan (F), Labour, new member
Constituencies with High Muslim Populations:
- Birmingham Hodge Hill (62% Muslim)
- Bradford West (59% Muslim)
- Ilford South (44% Muslim)
- Leicester South (32% Muslim)
- Rochdale (18th in the list with a significant Muslim population)
From Pakistan-administered Kashmir, elected to the House:
- Imran Hussain (Mirpur)
- Mohammad Yasin (Samahani)
- Ayoub Khan (Dadyal)
- Tahir Ali (Dadyal)
- Shabana Mahmood (Mangala)
- Naz Shah Akhtar (Cakaswari)
- Zarah Sultana (Dadyal)
- Nus Ghani (Dadyal)
This election marks a significant milestone in the U.K.’s political landscape, reflecting the growing diversity and influence of Muslim communities in British politics.
Have Your Say!
Have you been affected by the issues raised in this story? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@soundvision.com.
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a Muslim Network TV’s representative. You can also get in touch in the following ways:
Tweet: @MuslimNetworkTV
We must take charge of our narrative. Research indicates that 92% of their Muslim coverage is negative. Help us change that.
