Yahoo News Probe under way into Labour 'racist' slur triggers fury ahead of West Midlands mayor count
The Labour party is today investigating after a party insider told journalists covering the West Midlands mayoral elections that Hamas was to blame for a predicted loss of votes in Muslim majority parts of Birmingham.
Independent candidate Akhmed Yakoob has demanded full disclosure into the circumstances after a Labour representative made the derogatory comment throwing shade on his voters, triggering a huge backlash.
MPs reacted angrily after the quote from an insider appeared, saying a Tory victory would be thanks to “the Middle East, not the West Midlands." Backbenchers decried the remarks for conflating Muslim voters with Hamas, repeating a trope linking pro Palestine marches with terrorist sympathisers.
READ MORE: Why Gaza TikTok lawyer and Reform UK will win or lose West Midlands Mayor vote for Andy Street
The row erupted after Labour sources in the West Midlands predicted that Richard Parker, the party’s candidate, would lose to Andy Street, the Tory incumbent. Some comments were made to BirminghamLive and other media sources in off-record briefings from an unofficial source of the party. It comes amid fear that Yakoob has captured traditional Labour voters in places like Alum Rock, Small Heath and Lozells.
“It’s the Middle East, not West Midlands that will have won Street the mayoralty," one source had told multiple journalists. But in comments to the BBC's political editor Rob Mayor a source went further, adding: "Once again, Hamas are the real villains."
Independent candidate Yakoob, addressing the saga in customary fashion on TikTok, said the comment showed the desperation of the party, amid claims he might even seize third place thanks to his feisty campaign targetting inner city areas that have been struggling against discrimination, inequality and poverty. He has harnessed the anger into votes, thought to be largely at the expense of Labour.
Zarah Sultana, the MP for Coventry South, said of the comments: “Once again, I’m deeply disturbed by Islamophobic quotes given to the media by ‘Labour sources’. When politicians are confronted with racist bile, it should be immediately condemned. As a party we need to listen to and acknowledge concerns, not hold British Muslims in contempt.”
Tahir Ali, the MP for Birmingham Hall Green, said the remark was “vile racism” and that “treating voters with such a lack of respect is deplorable and should not be tolerated”.
“Such anti-Muslim bigotry will only serve to alienate a community that has long supported Labour in its efforts to transform this country for the better,” he added.
Following the backlash, Labour HQ distanced itself from the anonymous quote and insisted it did not represent the party’s views.
A spokesman said: “The Labour party has strongly condemned this racist quote, which has not come from anyone who is speaking on behalf of the party or whose values are welcome in the party.”
