The Muslim Council of Britain today congratulates the Labour Party and Sir Keir Starmer on this successful election victory.
We believe this marks an important moment for change in our country. There is much to be done: to improve the lives and outcomes of all Britons, to unite us all, and to speak out for peace and justice in the world. We hope this will also mark a move away from divisive culture wars, one of the chief victims of which have been Muslim communities.
The general election result has been a historic win for the Labour Party, and we congratulate them for that. It has also seen a rise in votes for independents indicating less secure vote banks. This sends a signal for the party and incoming government: all votes matter and none should be taken for granted.
Zara Mohammed, Secretary General of the Muslim Council of Britain said:
“We congratulate the Labour Party and Sir Keir Starmer on this historic win and welcome a new Government and change for the UK. We commend all Members of Parliament who have been elected to serve the country, we thank those who gave their service already and we particularly congratulate the many British Muslims who have now been elected.
For over a decade, we have seen an uptick in Islamophobia, in the vilification of Muslims and poor engagement with our communities. With a new government, Now is the time for fostering meaningful dialogue and regaining the trust of British Muslim communities.
We need a change to move from austerity to ease, from hardship to comfort, and from divisive politics to a model of engagement that includes all communities.
For British Muslim voters, as with fellow voters, there has been an overwhelming sense of helplessness over the situation in Gaza and the UK’s unwillingness to demand a ceasefire and call out a plausible genocide. We have seen this best expressed in the seats where independents have now won or taken a considerable share of the vote, an indication that no vote should be taken for granted.
We have highlighted core issues of significant concern to Muslims across the country in our manifesto. Addressing critical issues such as the war in Palestine, the cost of living, the state of the NHS and hate crime must be at the forefront of this new administration’s agenda. We also urge the new government to eliminate anti-immigration rhetoric and work towards bringing our country together. We call on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to lead for all, ensuring that every community feels represented and valued.
We look forward to meeting with the new government to ensure that every community feels heard, represented, and valued, and work towards a more inclusive and united Britain.”
[ENDS]