Labour has been comprehensively beaten in Plaistow North by the misnamed ‘Newham Independents’, who generally represent a populist anti-Labour/pro-car platform. On this occasion the campaign undoubtedly focussed on the national Labour Party’s position refusing to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. The failure of local MP Lyn Brown to join Stephen Timms in supporting parliamentary efforts to call for a ceasefire didn’t help the atmosphere.
Sophia Naqvi won in Plaistow North with 1,266 votes. She is expected to join Mehmood Mirza and, we assume, Labour defector Zuber Gulamussen in a political group on Newham Council. The Labour candidate was well behind on 750. Local candidate Anas Khan gained a creditable third place with 274 votes, ahead of the Greens and other established parties.
It remains to be seen what long term consequences there are for the Labour Party’s given its recent unpopularity on Palestine. However it is regrettable that discontent was expressed in this way when other candidates also had a progressive position on Gaza, but also on local issues too.
Newham 65 
One response to “Labour loses in Plaistow North”
Surely the result in Plaistow North reflected the failure of the Labour Party to explain why both Constituency Labour Parties in both East Ham and West Ham have been suspended.
If the Labour Party does not trust its own party members in Newham, why should voters trust the party?
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