Sir Keir Starmer has been handed 18 demands by a grassroots Muslim campaign group in order to win back lost votes over Gaza.
The Muslim Vote has urged the Labour leader to apologise for his stance on the Israel-Hamas war, allow followers of Islam to pray in schools and promise to cut military links with Israel.
The group, which describes itself as a “broad community campaign” and “loose collective”, called on Starmer to “return the Zionist money”, withdraw the Government’s new definition of extremism and put a travel ban on Israeli politicians who support the war in Gaza.
It warned that, without these changes, the group’s supporters would vote for the Green Party or the Liberal Democrats.
Sir Keir Starmer has been handed 18 demands by a grassroots Muslim campaign group in order to win back lost votes over Gaza
PA
The list of demands was reissued after a number of Labour and Tory councillors were ousted at last week’s local elections by a series of council candidates who campaigned on the issue of Gaza.
Michael Gove unveiled a new definition of extremism earlier this year, which applies to groups that promote an ideology based on “violence, hatred or intolerance”.
At the time, the Communities secretary used parliamentary privilege to name a number of groups likely to fall foul of the updated definition.
The Muslim Vote is supported by some groups which were listed by Gove, including Mend and the Muslim Association of Britain – both of which have rejected his characterisation.
Mend said it “absolutely does not fit any extremism definition that is at all fair”.
The Muslim Vote is also backed by Prevent Watch, a group which opposes the Government’s counter-extremism strategy.
The campaign group has said it is focused on influencing seats where the Muslim vote can impact the outcome.
According to figures published by the ONS last year, roughly 3.9 million people in Britain identify as Muslim.
Chair of the Labour Muslim Network, Ali Milani, said the party’s position on Gaza “is going to have a serious electoral consequence”.
He added: “If I was a Labour MP in Bradford, Birmingham, Leicester, or parts of London or Manchester, I would be seriously concerned.”
Meanwhile, party campaign coordinator Pat McFadden, said Labour is “working to get a better future for the Palestinian people”.
Asked what he would say to people who took issue with Starmer’s position on the situation in the Middle East, McFadden said: “What I would say to them is that the better life that people want for the Palestinian people is something the Labour leadership shares.
“If we’re fortunate enough to be elected at a general election, it’s a very high foreign policy priority for the Labour Party.
“Two things have guided us all the way through since Oct 7. The first was defending Israel’s right to defend itself after that atrocity, and that remains part of our position, and the second is working to get a better future for the Palestinian people.”
Speaking in Birmingham after Labour ousted Tory mayor Andy Street in the West Midlands on Saturday night, in what was an extremely tight contest, Starmer appealed directly to those who had abandoned the party over Gaza.
He said: “I say directly to those who may have voted Labour in the past, but felt on this occasion they couldn’t, that across the West Midlands we are a proud and diverse community: I have heard you. I have listened.
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“And I am determined to meet your concerns and to gain your respect and trust again in the future.”
Posting its demands to social media in response, The Muslim Vote said: “Our asks are sophisticated and we’ve built consensus around them.
“Your sorrowful non-statements no longer cut it. We want real action and real policies.
“If you can’t commit to that – that’s cool. I’m sure [the Green Party or the Lib Dems] would be happy to take the votes.”
