Accusations of a Labour “purge” of its left-wing candidates have given momentum to the growing movement of independents who are challenging the party's stance on Gaza.
Many of these independent candidates emerged alone, but have since formed alliances with other left-wing groupings, in line with policies promoted by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Labour leader Keir Starmer has suffered the first stumble in his so far successful election campaign over the suspension of several left-wing candidates, with the Labour Muslim Network claiming one has been the victim of Islamophobia.
Among the independents is Kamel Hawwash, an engineering professor at the University of Birmingham, who has served as the chairman of Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
Mr Hawwash is running in Birmingham Selly Oak, where he planned to unseat Steve McCabe, who chairs the Labour Friends of Israel parliamentary group – until Mr McCabe stepped down on Tuesday.
Mr Hawwash is in the process of registering a new party, Reliance, which will be part of the umbrella of the left-wing groupings challenging Labour.
These include groups such as Assemble, which endorses candidates campaigning for citizens' assemblies, and the Muslim Vote, which encourages British-Muslims to vote for politicians supporting a ceasefire in Gaza.
“That sounds like fragmentation, but what we're trying to do is to have some common (values),” he told The National.
Peace and justice
At the heart of that, he says, are the five pledges of Jeremy Corbyn’s Peace and Justice project, which include taxing the rich to fund the NHS, and building more social housing. “That's what brings us together,” he said.
His campaign will focus on national issues, which many to the left of Labour say the party is not adequately addressing.
“Labour’s mask is slipping, they have very few policies you could point to,” Mr Hawwash told The National. "[Starmer] made 10 pledges to be elected as leader, and has reneged on every single one of them.
“The same people who support Palestine are facing a cost of living crisis, they're facing long waits on the NHS, terrible housing issues.”
Mr Starmer has promised “change” as his key campaign message. Earlier this month, he said he was “determined” to win back the trust of Muslim voters after the party lost councils to independents who had put Gaza at the heart of their campaign.
Mr Hawwash is not exclusively targeting Muslims. In this safe Labour seat, which has a high number of university students, local frustrations are likely to be directed at the party as well as the current Conservative government.
Jeremy Corbyn with Faiza Shaheen, who has not been endorsed to be the Labour candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green. Photo: PA Wire
Starmer makes final cull ahead of election
The rise of independents reflects divisions within the Labour Party, which were magnified after a crippling defeat in the 2019 general election, under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership.
Mr Corbyn's progressive politics gained unprecedented popularity, but the party was also plagued by allegations of anti-Semitism. He was criticised by British-Arab communities for his silence on the evidence of Syrian President Bashar Al Assad's use of chemical weapons against civilian populations.
He will be standing in this election as an independent for Islington North, a seat he has held for 41 years, after he was suspended from representing Labour as an MP in 2020.
There is also consternation over the treatment of veteran Labour MP Dianne Abbott,who in 1987 became the first black woman elected to Parliament, but had the Labour whip suspended in April 2023 pending an investigation after she suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism.
Kamel Hawwash addresses a pro-Palestine rally outside Downing Street. Alamy
The whip was restored on Tuesday, but Ms Abbott, who was a key member of Mr Corbyn's shadow cabinet, appeared to believe she had been barred from standing in Hackney North and Stoke Newington on July 4. Mr Starmer maintains no decision has been taken.
Labour has also said it will not endorse Faiza Shaheen as its candidate to fight former Conservative Party leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who she narrowly lost to in 2019.
Ms Shaheen, who is on the left-wing of the party, allegedly liked a series of posts on X that downplayed anti-Semitism accusations, which she said she can't remember doing. She also liked a Tweet by the US comedian Jon Stewart about Gaza.
At a meeting with a panel of Labour's National Executive Committee on Tuesday, they highlighted posts that raised questions about her suitability as a candidate, she said.
She said she was the “one socialist that was running” and it was a “surprise that I wasn't blocked earlier”.
“On top of Gaza, on top of Diane Abbott and now this to me, when there's such clear double standards of how other people have been treated when stuff has happened, what message are you sending my community? What message are you sending the black community?”
UK general election campaigning – in pictures
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak holds a speech during his visit to Well Healthcare Supplies as he campaigns in Stoke. Getty Images
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer laughs as he speaks to supporters near Milton Keynes. AP
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey bungee jumps during a visit to Eastbourne Borough Football Club in East Sussex. AP
Mr Sunak bowls during his visit to Nuneaton Cricket Club. AFP
Mr Starmer addresses an audience of Labour Party members and supporters during a rally at the Royal Horticultural Halls in central London. AP
Mr Davey rides a towable inflatable during a visit to Lakeside Ski & Wake, in the Cotswolds. Reuters
Mr Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty visit the BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir in London. AFP
Mr Starmer during a visit to the Shree Swaminarayan Mandir Hindu temple in Kingsbury, London. PA
Mr Davey participates in a Zumba class with supporters in Wokingham. Reuters
Mr Starmer speaking during a visit to Northampton Town Football Club at Sixfields Stadium. PA
Mr Sunak delivers a speech in central London. AFP
Mr Davey jet-washes an ambulance in London. Getty Images
Mr Starmer rests his hand on the shoulder of Idris Elba as they meet families of knife crime victims, in west London. PA
Mr Sunak turns on the power in the training centre control room during a tour of the Sizewell B nuclear power plant. AFP
Mr Davey plays a game of Frisbee on a visit to a farm in Hampshire. AP
Mr Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves visit a supermarket in Swindon. PA
Mr Sunak speaks to journalists on the campaign bus following the launch of the Welsh Conservatives General Election manifesto near Rhyl. Reuters
Mr Davey taking part in wheelbarrow racing at Huish Park, home of Yeovil Town football club in Somerset. PA
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, speaks to the press in Clacton-on-Sea. Bloomberg
Mr Starmer speaks at the launch of the Labour party's 2024 general election manifesto in Manchester. AP
Mr Sunak answers questions from the audience in Grimsby. Getty Images
Mr Davey toasts a marshmallow as he visits Willow Forest School in Surrey. EPA
Mr Farage attends the launch of the Reform UK manifesto in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. Reuters
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar launches Scottish Labour’s battle bus campaign on June 17 in South Queensferry, Scotland. Getty Images
Britain's Labour Party politician and Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting speaks to a television crew outside the BBC in London. AFP
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, on the BBC 1 current affairs programme, Sunday, with Laura Kuenssberg. BBC
Mr Sunak meets pupils in a maths class during a visit to the John Whitgift Academy, in Grimsby. AP
Mr Starmer during a visit to Grimsby Institute, a technical training college in Grimsby. PA
Mr Davey during a general election campaign visit to the Aqua Jungle Spot in Stratford-upon-Avon. Bloomberg
Mr Sunak and Akshata Murty take centre stage at the Conservative Party's general election manifesto launch in Towcester. Getty Images
Mr Starmer passes a toothbrush to a child during his visits to the Whale Hill Primary School in Middlesbrough. AP
Mr Davey meets Steve Darling, Liberal Democrat candidate for Torbay and his guide dog Jennie at Torquay Harbour. Getty Images
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage reacts after something is thrown towards him on the campaign bus in Cawthorne, Barnsley. AP
Mr Sunak attends a neighbourhood watch meeting in Horsham, West Sussex. PA
Mr Starmer helps volunteers pot plants during a visit to Harlesden Town Garden in north-west London. PA
Mr Davey on the 'Rush' ride during a Liberal Democrats general election campaign event at Thorpe Park. Reuters
Mr Sunak, during a visit to Imagination Childcare, in Swindon, Wiltshire, while on the election campaign trail. PA
Mr Starmer visits Brent Cross town's visitor pavilion for a housing launch in London. Getty Images
Mr Davey grills burgers in a garden, during campaigning in Wiltshire. PA
Mr Sunak during a visit to Leander Club, in Henley-on-Thames, as a boat carrying Liberal Democrat supporters passes behind him. Reuters
Mr Starmer meets pensioners to talk about the impact of the energy crisis and the cost of living, in a cafe in Bolton. PA
Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer lock horns the first televised general election debate of the campaign, at MediaCity in Salford. PA
Mr Davey plays Jenga using symbolic 'blue wall' blocks in Stockport. EPA
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn poses outside Islington Town Hall, north London, after handing in his nomination papers for the general election, taking place on July 4. PA
Mr Farage has a milkshake hurled at him during a campaign event in Clacton-on-Sea. EPA
Mr Sunak launches the Conservative Party's campaign bus at Redcar Racecourse in north-east England. PA
Labour launch their election campaign bus, with Mr Starmer, his deputy Angela Rayner and Rachel Reeves, shadow chancellor, in Uxbridge. Getty Images
Mr Davey holds a balloon with a figure that represents the amount of votes the Liberal Democrat party lost by in Wimbledon. PA
Mr Sunak feeds lambs as he visits Rowlinson's Farm during a Conservative general election campaign event in Gawsworth. Reuters
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Mr Starmer, shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero Ed Miliband and local candidate Martin McCluskey in Greenock. PA
Mr Sunak holds a question and answer session during a visit to Niftylift in Milton Keynes. EPA
Mr Starmer serves ice cream to day trippers on Barry seafront in South Wales. PA
Mr Davey takes part in a baking lesson with pupils from High Beeches Primary School during a half-term holiday camp in Hertfordshire. PA
Mr Sunak speaks with a cafe worker as he picks up breakfast for the media at a cafe in Cornwall. PA
Mr Starmer speaks at the launch of Labour's six steps for change in Wales at the Priory Centre in Abergavenny. PA
Mr Davey and Anna Sabine, parliamentary candidate for Frome and East Somerset, ride the Ultimate Slip 'n' Slide at Eastcote Farm in Beckington. Bloomberg
Scottish National Party Leader John Swinney speaks during a visit to The Dower House Cafe in Edinburgh. AP
Rishi Sunak examines Jackal armoured vehicles during his visit to defence vehicle manufacturer Supacat in Exeter. PA
Keir Starmer with a baby at Worcester City Football Club. PA
Ed Davey rides a bike during a visit to Knighton, Wales. PA
Nigel Farage at the cliffs in Dover after speaking at a Reform UK event. Getty Images
Akshata Murty, wife of Mr Sunak, meets with residents during a visit to a Royal British Legion care home in Ripon. Getty Images
Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves during a visit to Rolls Royce’s educational training complex in Derby. PA
Ed Davey falls into the water while paddle boarding on Lake Windermere. PA
Rishi Sunak campaigning in Amersham, Buckinghamshire. EPA
Mr Starmer addresses party members and media in Lancing Parish Hall, West Sussex. Getty Images
Mr Davey launches his party's general election campaign battle bus in Cambridge. PA
Mr Sunak on the ball during a visit to Chesham United Football Club. PA
Mr Starmer speaks to party supporters after making his first keynote speech of the campaign in Lancing. PA
Mr Davey join supporters for a dog walk near Winchester. PA
Mr Sunak visits a maritime technology centre in Belfast, Northern Ireland, as he campaigns for the general election on July 4. Reuters
Mr Starmer and his Scottish counterpart, Anas Sarwar, greet supporters at the launch of the Scottish Labour general election campaign at Caledonia House in Glasgow. Getty Images
Mr Davey, right, eats ice cream with his party's local candidate, Josh Babarinde, on the promenade in Eastbourne. PA
Mr Sunak arrives at Inverness Airport, in Scotland, on the general election campaign trail. PA
Mr Starmer during a visit to Gillingham Football Club in Kent. PA
Mr Sunak speaks with members of staff at the Global Energy Group facility at the Port of Nigg in north-east Scotland. AFP
Mr Davey during a visit to the town centre in Cheltenham. PA
Richard Tice, the leader of Reform UK, attends an election campaign launch in London. AP
Mr Sunak holds a Q&A with staff of a West Transport distribution centre in Ilkeston in the East Midlands. AP
Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner and Mr Starmer arrive at Gillingham FC. Getty Images
Mr Sunak takes questions from workers at West Transport. Getty Images
Mr Starmer holds a piece of campaign branding at Gillingham. PA
Mr Sunak poses for a selfie in Ilkeston. AFP
Responding to the announcement, Ms Abbott said the situation was “appalling” and asked: “Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of left wingers?”
Mr Stewart also weighed in on a post on X, saying: “This is the dumbest thing the UK has done since electing Boris Johnson.”
The Labour leadership's attempts to distance itself from Mr Corbyn's legacy has alienated his supporters.
Sophia Naqvi, a former Labour councillor who is standing for the Newham Independents for the East London seat of West Ham and Beckton, posted her congratulations to Mr Corbyn, alongside a photo of the pair of them at a pro-Palestine march, on social media.
The mother of four, who describes herself as a “socialist”, told The National the experience of Ms Abbott and Ms Shaheenis the “culmination of a purge, which started a few years back”.
“Many of those now being deselected or worse expelled are those who come from a socialist left-wing tradition.”
Ms Naqvi, who works as a teaching assistant, said: “Working people need to build an alternative. It's why so many are standing as Independents. We will fight for as long as it takes to build a real grass roots movement for change to break the hold of the party in our country.”
She said that while her disillusionment over Gaza initially led her to quit Labour, she is campaigning on the left-wing platform on issues such as the health service and cuts to public services.
While out campaigning she has had a positive reaction from all sections of the community, not just Muslims, and “people have said they feel that they're forgotten”.
“My dad and my grandad and me, we always thought the Labour was a working-class party and its policies were for the working class,” she said.
One veteran politician riding the Gaza wave is George Galloway, who became MP for Rochdale in March when the constituency found itself without a Labour contender.
Mr Galloway often presents himself as a defender of British Muslims, yet also conducted a disparaging election campaign against Bradford MP Naz Shah in 2015, where he accused her of faking the story of her forced and sexually abusive marriage.
A candidate for Mr Galloway's Workers Party of Britain recently stepped down in Ilford South so as not to run against Leanne Mohammed, a British-Palestinian independent candidate who is challenging shadow health secretary Wes Streeting.
'A breath of fresh air'
Other prominent independents putting Gaza at the heart of their campaigns include Ms Mohammed, the South African activist Andrew Feinstein, former Labour MP Emma Dent Coad, and British-Palestinian theatre director Tanushkah Marah.
Many, like Mr Feinstein, say they are bringing more choice to a political system dominated by two major parties.
Reliance’s first candidates are expected to announce their campaigns soon, and are of Palestinian and Muslim heritage. But Mr Hawwash said he has also been contacted by prospective independents who are not of those backgrounds.
The party will not have a whip, meaning candidates are not required to vote along a certain line in parliament.
“People will come together on the basis of shared values. We will discuss things and then agree what maybe could be the common position. But then each individual will vote in the way that they feel their conscience and their constituents determines,” he said.
The possibility to do so, will be a “breath of fresh air,” he added, pointing to a Commons debate on a ceasefire in February that descended into chaos.
“It was the whip that was above everything, how Labour said people should vote rather than people judging for themselves,” he said.
Recalibrating the UK's policy on Palestine
The UK’s policy towards Israel needs recalibration, Mr Hawwash said, from a blind supporter to a “critical friend”, pushing it to make decisions that will be better for Israel’s security in the long term, such as recognition of Palestinian statehood.
“The UK’s position, instead of being a state that recognises its responsibility for the Palestinian problem because of the Balfour Declaration, it buries its head in the sand. When it brings it out, it stands with Israel. And that's completely wrong,” he said.
“The UK should be a critical friend and say: 'You, Israel did not agree to the formation of Palestinian state before the seventh of October. You've had decades for that to happen,' ” he said.
According to Mr Hawwash, Israel blocking the entry of aid into Gaza should have been among the “triggers” for a change in government policy. “But they seemed to go back to saying that Israel has a right to self-defence.”
He had hoped the surprise appointment of David Cameron as foreign secretary in November would bring “common sense and statesmanship” into the government’s approach to Israel – but he has since been disappointed.
The UK’s long-term role once the conflict is over, should be to ensure Palestinian sovereignty and to stop Israeli meddling in its politics and security.
Without pressure on Israel to end its occupation and illegal settlements, the UKs professed commitment to a peace process was “just empty words”.
Yet Mr Hawwash was proud of the student movement mobilising for Palestine, including some of his own who were part of an encampment at the University of Birmingham.
What had changed in the UK’s Palestine solidarity movement was the “frequency and determination” of people travelling from across the country to march in London every two weeks.
“Think this time, there's probably more likelihood of people continuing to work for justice and peace afterwards,” he said.
Britain's Labour Party through the years – in pictures
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, and Labour leader Keir Starmer meet party supporters in Harlow in May. All photos: Getty Images
London Mayor and Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan, and his wife Saadiya Khan, pose with supporters after Mr Khan was re-elected in May
Mr Starmer meets and greets supporters in Chatham in 2023
Then-party leader Jeremy Corbyn during a 2017 visit to Oxford
First minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, left, and leader of Scottish Labour Kezia Dugdale place roses at a memorial for murdered Labour MP Jo Cox, in Glasgow in 2016
Labour leader Ed Miliband, sixth right, holds his first shadow cabinet meeting at the House of Commons in 2010
Newly elected Labour prime minister Tony Blair stands on the steps of No 10 Downing Street with his wife Cherie in 1997
Mr Blair, John Prescott and Gordon Brown at the Labour Party Conference in 1997
Former leader Neil Kinnock, left, shares a joke with Peter Mandelson, a key figure behind the party's 1997 general election landslide victory, at the party conference in 1997
Leader John Smith addresses a miners' rally in Hyde Park, London, in 1992
Mr Kinnock with a group of youngsters publicising Labour's jobs And industry campaign in 1985
BBC TV coverage of the October 1974 general election, with Labour prime minister Harold Wilson and his wife Mary visible on a screen in London
Mr Wilson, left, and Labour politician Tony Benn speaking at a press conference during the 1974 general election campaign
Barbara Castle speaking at the Labour Party Conference in 1969
Mr Wilson waving outside No 10 in 1964
Mr Wilson, left, with deputy leader George Brown in 1963
A campaign poster issued by the Labour Party depicting leader Hugh Gaitskell arm-in-arm with Barbara Castle and Aneurin Bevan in 1959
Party leader Clement Attlee with a Labour delegation, boarding a plane on their way to China in 1954
Mr Attlee and his wife Violet attending a film premiere in London in 1952
Members of the Labour cabinet at No 10 in 1929: Clockwise from top left: Tom Shaw, Arthur Greenwood, Noel Buxton, Sidney Webb, Arthur Henderson and prime minister Ramsay MacDonald
Mr MacDonald addressing a Labour victory meeting at the Royal Albert Hall, London, in 1924
From left, Mr Henderson, William Brace, William Adamson, Vernon Hartshorn and James Henry Thomas outside Unity House during a coal workers' strike, in London, 1920
Scottish Labour politician James Keir Hardie addressing a peace meeting in Trafalgar Square, London, in 1914
Mr Hardie speaks at a tailors' rally on May Day in Hyde Park, London, in 1912