Seven councillors have resigned from the Labour Party, citing concerns over the treatment of Diane Abbott and Faiza Shaheen, the party’s stance on Gaza, and remarks made by the local MP.
The councillors from Slough Borough Council claim that debates over whether Abbott and Shaheen could stand for election exposed “institutional racism” within the Labour Party.
Faiza Shaheen was prevented from running as Labour’s candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green, north London, due to historical social media posts, while Diane Abbott was only recently reinstated after her suspension from Labour.
A Labour spokesperson stated, “We are focused on electing a Labour government and delivering the change that people in Slough and across the country need.”
Councillors Zaffar Ajaib, Sabia Akram, Haqeeq Dar, Mohammed Nazir, Naveeda Qaseem, Waqas Sabah, and Jamilia Sabah were all listed in a statement announcing their resignation on Monday night.
In their statement, the councillors expressed that they felt compelled to resign: “We must stay true to our values and conscience, even if the party we once believed in has abandoned them.”
The councillors also criticized Labour’s position on the Gaza conflict and its hesitation to support parliamentary motions calling for a ceasefire.
Additionally, they condemned Slough’s current MP, Tan Dhesi, for accusing independent candidate Azhar Chohan of “toxifying” the town. Chohan, a former Labour Party member, has garnered support for his pro-Palestine stance and has the backing of the organization Muslim Vote.
In a statement, Dhesi warned against being “duped” by individuals “asking one faith community in particular to vote in a block.”
The councillors indicated they would continue serving on Slough Borough Council as independents.
Tan Dhesi responded to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, noting that he had been canvassing with some of the resigning councillors recently and they had not mentioned their grievances at the time.
“It’s very strange that some of them were out canvassing with me recently, including over the last two days and didn’t raise any such grievances,” Dhesi remarked.
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