Are Leading Labour Councillors supporting an Opposition Candidate? Gaza continues to exert an effect on Plaistow North.
When Open Newham charted the influence of Tablighi Jamaat in the selection of Rokhsana Fiaz as the Labour candidate for mayor, we noted that one of the key organisers of the youth faction within the Tablighis, (Anas Khan) was also the key individual within Newham People’s Alliance. This latter group was instrumental in mobilizing via social media to deselect Robin Wales, who was seen as an impediment to the building of the “mega-mosque” at Temple Mills. In addition, we noted the appearance of a new organisation, the Newham Muslim Forum that has Khan at its centre, (he is a trustee of the CIO, see below. It is unknown whether the two Khans are related).
With the election of Fiaz to the mayoralty, we noted the promotion of the Newham Muslim Forum as the sole conduit through which the borough of Newham would communicate with the Muslim community. The NMF states that it was established in 2017, but it was only in 2023 that it registered as a CIO.
We noted that Anas Khan had put himself forward as a candidate in the Plaistow North by-election. Although we are in little doubt that his role in this election is to act as a spoiler to split the vote that would otherwise go to Sophia Naqvi, officially, he is an opposition candidate.
It therefore came as something of a surprise to learn that a leading councillor had attended yet another vigil at the Town Hall, this one organized by Khan’s Newham Muslim Forum. (We are told that there were others but have no evidence of this.)
Below we see (a slightly out of focus), Labour Group Chief Whip, Anamul Islam at the NMF vigil.
Khan informs NMF supporters of a change of venue.
The demands contained within this “invitation to prayer” have extended from “ceasefire now” to, “end the occupation”. The second demand may simply relate to the territory in the north of the Gaza strip where Israeli forces have recently entered. It may be, indeed it is rather more likely to be, that this is a demand to end the “occupation of Palestine”, i.e. “liberate” all of the land between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. Basically, a dog whistle to get rid of the Jews.
It seems that every party represented in the byelection is required to hold some sort of event for Gaza.
Mirza organized the first at East Ham Town Hall (following the PIJ bombing of a hospital car park).
Fiaz ordered the second, a multi-faith event in Stratford.
Khan the third (Get rid of the Jews in Palestine?).
As the Greens attended the first, we look forward to seeing what the Lib-Dems and the Tories do.
It is interesting that Khan is now seen as an acceptable person to do business with; previously he had been arrested by the police for his part in trying to take control of the buildings at Three Mills.
The presence of Anamul Islam at the event adds weight to the suggestion that Khan is in the Plaistow North race, merely as a spoiler.