Labour Shadow Paymaster General Loses Seat Amid Voter Backlash Over Gaza

The recent general election has seen significant upheaval within the Labour party, as the Shadow Paymaster General, Jonathan Ashworth, lost his Leicester seat amidst a growing voter backlash over the Gaza conflict. This loss marked a major blow for Labour, with Ashworth’s share of the vote collapsing by 35 percentage points compared to 2019.

In Blackburn, another Labour stronghold, an independent candidate managed to edge ahead by 0.3 percentage points, securing 27% of the vote and winning the constituency, highlighting the shift in voter sentiment. Similarly, Dewsbury and Batley witnessed a sharp decline in Labour’s support, as former Rachel Reeves adviser Heather Iqbal saw the party’s vote drop by over 36%.

This trend of independents gaining ground was further evident in Chingford and Woodford Green, where Labour failed to secure victory, emphasizing the challenges faced by the party amid voter discontent. Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting narrowly avoided a loss in his East London seat of Ilford North, winning by less than 1,000 votes.

The fallout extended to senior shadow cabinet members, with Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire also losing in Bristol Central. Meanwhile, the Tories clinched victory in Leicester East, where former Labour MP Claudia Webbe stood as an independent candidate.

Claudia Webbe, who initially faced harassment allegations, saw a conviction in May 2022, prompting Labour to call for her resignation as an MP. Stripped of the Labour whip in September 2020, she did not regain it, reflecting the internal challenges the party has grappled with.

An analysis by Sky News revealed that areas with a significant Muslim population, above 15%, experienced a more than 14% decrease in the Labour vote, attributing this decline to the ongoing grievances over Gaza. The election outcomes underscore a broader discontent within Labour’s traditional support base and the impact of geopolitical issues on domestic politics.