Leanne Mohamad (born September 2000) is a British-Palestinian activist who stood as an independent candidate in the 2024 United Kingdom general election against Wes Streeting, the Labour Party incumbent and shadow health secretary, in the constituency of Ilford North. She stood for election in protest against Labour's stance on the Israel–Palestine war and the Gaza humanitarian crisis.[1]
Leanne Mohammed | |
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| Born | September 2000 (age 24) Ilford, London, England |
| Alma mater | King's College London |
| Occupations |
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| Known for | Candidacy in the 2024 United Kingdom general election |
| Political party |
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Although Mohamad was not elected to Parliament, Streeting's unexpectedly narrow margin of victory provoked media and political attention, especially in the context of the victory at the general election of several other independent candidates who stood on platforms critical of Labour's response to the Israel–Hamas conflict.[2][3][4]
Early life and education
editLeanne Mohamad was born in September 2000 in Ilford, East London, and raised by Palestinian parents.[5][6][7]
In 2016, while a 15-year-old student at Wanstead High School, Mohamad gave a speech on the plight faced by Palestinians as part of the Jack Petchey Foundation's "Speak Out" Challenge. She won the Redbridge borough final, but faced online harassment and accusations of blood libel after a video of her speech was published online. In response, the foundation's Speakers Trust briefly removed the video from their YouTube channel citing safeguarding concerns, before reinstating it after consulting with her family. Wes Streeting, in his capacity as the local member of Parliament for Ilford North, condemned the abuse and argued that her speech could not be considered antisemitic.[8][9]
2024 general election
edit
Following the start of the Israel–Hamas war and the Gaza humanitarian crisis in October 2023, Mohamad gave up her membership of the Labour Party in protest at comments made by Labour leader Keir Starmer that Israel had the right to cut off power and water supplies to the Gaza Strip.[10]
In January 2024, Mohamad was selected by the Redbridge Community Action Group (RCAG) to stand as a prospective independent candidate against Streeting in Ilford North for the upcoming general election. Her selection followed local controversy and backlash regarding Streeting's response to the conflict, as well as wider criticism of Starmer's previous comments on Israel and Gaza.[11][12] While Mohamad split from RCAG in April as a result of internal disputes, the group continued to endorse her.[13][6]
Mohamad's campaign was endorsed, along with many other independent candidates, by the pressure group The Muslim Vote.[14] Her campaign received significant media coverage, and was mentioned in the context of disillusionment with the Labour Party among British Muslims.[10][6][15][16] Her campaign also focused on issues such as the National Health Service (NHS), housing, and improving access to public services.[15][16]
At the general election, held on 4 July, Streeting was re-elected with a narrow majority of 528 (1.1 per cent of votes cast) ahead of Mohamad.[17] After the election, she accused Starmer of "burying his head in the sand" in response to Labour losses to other pro-Gaza independent candidates, such as Shockat Adam and Ayoub Khan, elsewhere at the general election.[18] The Muslim Vote identified Ilford North as one of a number of seats in which running a single unified candidate on a left-wing or pro-Gaza platform, potentially involving an alignment with opposition parties such as the Green Party of England and Wales, could have deprived Labour of a victory.[19]
References
edit- ^ Mulla, Imran (5 July 2024). "UK election 2024: British-Palestinian Leanne Mohamad narrowly loses to Labour's Wes Streeting". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Pro-Gaza candidates dent Labour's UK election victory". Reuters. 5 July 2024.
- ^ "Pro-Gaza candidates squeeze Labour vote in some constituencies". BBC News. 5 July 2024.
- ^ Tahir, Tariq (7 July 2024). "Leanne Mohamed supporters hope for more after giving Labour cabinet minister scare". The National.
- ^ Rickett, Oscar (21 June 2024). "Leanne Mohamad: Could anger over Gaza topple a Labour heavyweight?". Middle East Eye.
- ^ a b c Javed, Saman (19 June 2024). "Independent candidate Leanne Mohamad — Gaza has been an awakening for a new wave of politics". Hyphen.
- ^ "Leanne MOHAMAD personal appointments - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 21 July 2024.
- ^ Dearden, Lizzie (7 June 2016). "London schoolgirl targeted with 'appalling' online abuse after winning competition with pro-Palestinian speech". The Independent.
- ^ Farand, Chloe (1 June 2016). "Wanstead schoolgirl Leanne Mohamad speaks out after 'vile abuse' from trolls for pro-Palestinian speech". Ilford Recorder.
- ^ a b Gohil, Neha (25 June 2024). "'People feel very betrayed': the British Palestinian out to unseat Labour's Wes Streeting in Ilford". The Guardian.
- ^ Carter, Rob (16 January 2024). "Palestinian candidate to battle Labour's Wes Streeting in Ilford North". 5Pillars.
- ^ Keane, Daniel (16 January 2024). "Pro-Palestinian activist to run against Wes Streeting in election for Ilford North". The Standard.
- ^ "Palestine activist's bid to unseat Wes Streeting is rocked by bitter campaign rift". Jewish News. 18 April 2024.
- ^ "Who Should I Vote For?". The Muslim Vote. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ a b Frayer, Lauren (1 July 2024). "Anger over the Gaza war fuels independent candidates in U.K. election". NPR.
- ^ a b Yousra Samir, Imran (25 June 2024). "'A vote for Labour or Tory is a vote for genocide': Leanne Mohamad seeks to steer UK Parliament towards anti-apartheid policies". The New Arab.
- ^ "General Election 2024 results". London Borough of Redbridge. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ Khan, Shehab (9 July 2024). "Starmer accused of 'awful response' on Labour's relationship with British Muslims". ITV News. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
- ^ "Muslim election campaign group calls for united alliance in future UK elections". Middle East Eye. 11 July 2024.