Several British-Pakistani and Kashmiri-origin parliamentarians are contesting competitive constituencies in the upcoming UK elections on July 4, 2024.
This election cycle is marked by intense campaigns focused on economic issues, immigration, rising inflation, crime rates, and Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The majority of these potential candidates from British-Pakistani and Kashmiri backgrounds are competing in Birmingham and the West Midlands (five seats), Greater Manchester (two seats), Bradford (two seats), Bedford and Dewsbury (one seat each), London and the Southeast (one seat each), and Scotland (two seats).
In a notable development, the traditional Labour Party candidates are facing challenges not from mainstream parties like the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Green Party, or the newly reformed Reform Party, nor from the Workers Party of Great Britain led by George Galloway.
Instead, a variety of independent candidates of Pakistani and Kashmiri descent are contesting, primarily focusing on the issue of Gaza.
These independent candidates have mobilized around the topic of Israel’s conflict with Palestine since October 7 last year. In former Labour strongholds with significant Muslim and Pakistani-origin voters, there is considerable dissatisfaction with the Labour Party’s stance on Israel, which independents are aiming to capitalize on, particularly through social media platforms such as TikTok, WhatsApp, and Instagram.
The campaign environment has been marred by a significant amount of misinformation and toxic rhetoric.
Below is a list of prominent candidates of Pakistani and Kashmiri origin, many of whom are contesting safe seats or are considered frontrunners representing major parties.
1- Shabana Mahmood
Ladywood Birmingham
Party : Labour
2-Khalid Mahmood
Perry Barr Birmingham
Party : Labour
3-Tahir Ali
Hall Green & MHussain
Birmingham
Party : Labour
4-Imran Hussain
Bradford East
Labour
5-Yasmin Qureshi
Bolton South and Walkden
Lab
6- Zarah Sultana
Coventry South
Labour
7-Gillingham and Rainham
Rehman Chishti
Conservative
8- Dr Rosena Allin-Khan
London — Tooting
Labour
9-Afzal Khan
Manchester — Rusholme
Labour
10-Saqib Bhatti
Meriden and Solihull East
Conservative
11- Nusrat Ghani
Sussex Weald
Conservative
12- Mohammad Yasin
Badford
Labour