Newham Independents are set to Stir the Pot for Labour

Prior to the election, Keir Starmer spoke to the Sun newspaper, regarding asylum seekers who had been denied status in the UK and who had exhausted their appeals. The context was that the Tories had reduced the number of repatriations in the months leading up to the election.  He said, “I’ll make sure we’ve got planes going off - not to Rwanda because that’s an expensive gimmick. They will go back to the countries where people come from. That’s what used to happen.” He also mentioned that people from safe countries were not being removed, “people from countries like Bangladesh.” 

In response, there has been some backlash from Bangladeshi Labour politicians; in neighbouring Tower Hamlets the Deputy Leader of the Labour Group has resigned. Reports tell us that there is widespread disquiet amongst British Bangladeshis at his comments, although this disquiet may actually have been fomented by a doctored video which stitched together some of Starmer’s comments to give a misleading impression, rather than what he actually said.

Locally, Newham Independents have chosen to build upon this feeling of disquiet and have to sought encourage dissent within Labour’s ranks; they have tabled the motion below, (at p55)

Motion 1 – Response to Comments Made by Labour Party Leadership. 

Proposer: Councillor Sophia Naqvi Seconder: 

Councillor Mehmood Mirza 

This council notes: The comments made by Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, regarding his desire to increase funding to the Home Office ‘returns unit’ within the first few days of any government he leads. 

1. The council is particularly dismayed by the singling out of individuals from Bangladesh in these comments. 

2. The significant contributions of the British Bangladeshi community to the economy of Newham and the UK as a whole. 

3. The comments made by Jonathan Ashworth, who also singled out Bangladeshi nationals. 

4. In the 2021 census, residents of Bangladeshi heritage made up 15.9% of Newham's population, representing a significant portion of our community.

The supposed actions, in the event that the motion is passed are largely symbolic virtue signalling. The exception is below, and it is one which might give the mayor some concern. Does she side with the identitarians and write to Starmer, thus further alienating herself from the Labour leadership, or does she oppose the motion and risk alienating some of her voters? And members?