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In a nail-biting finish, Labour’s Rushanara Ali narrowly retained her Bethnal Green and Stepney seat, eking out a victory by just 1,689 votes.
Amidst a storm of controversy, Ali faced a formidable challenge from pro-Palestine contender Ajmal Masroor. Despite a massive 39.4% drop in her vote share since the last general election, Ali managed to scrape together 15,896 votes against Masroor’s 14,207.
Local hero Masroor, known for his fiery pro-Gaza stance, rallied the community after fellow candidate Tasnime Akunjee stepped aside to avoid splitting the vote. Masroor praised his supporters for their “magnificent support,” declaring, “You’ve sent Labour a clear message: genocide politics won’t be tolerated. We slashed Labour’s majority, and we’ll hold them accountable!”
However, Akunjee had harsh words for Masroor, blaming him for the defeat. “I did my best to push for unity. Even stood down for it. But Masroor was a hard sell and failed yet again,” he blasted on social media, adding, “You lost when even a turnip could have won.”
In her victory speech, Ali thanked her team for their relentless efforts: “Together we showed that hope triumphs over fear, and unity over division. We will rebuild with a Labour Government. Thank you for your tireless work.”
The campaign was marred by Ali’s controversial abstention from a Gaza ceasefire vote last November, a move that angered local voters. Defending her decision, she claimed she could effect more change from within the party. Adding fuel to the fire, Ali refrained from criticising Labour leader Keir Starmer after he singled out the Bangladeshi community during an immigration debate. This sparked outrage in Tower Hamlets, where a significant 32% of the population is Bangladeshi. The deputy leader of the council even resigned in protest.
Starmer later apologised for any offence caused, but Ali’s muted response didn’t sit well with her constituents. She maintained she was focused on “relaying the community’s concerns” to the Labour leader.
Stay tuned as the drama in Bethnal Green and Stepney unfolds – this is far from over!