The Shape of Things to Come?

When we interviewed Mehmood Mirza, he was at pains to point out that he wanted Newham Independents to be a broader coalition. He reminded us that he was a socialist and when he was in the Labour Party, he was on its left.

He wanted socialists from all ethnicities, and we rather assumed that he also wanted women to serve as candidates and councillors.

It was with a little surprise, not a lot, but some surprise that we can now observe who the Independent Group is choosing.

The first candidate elected after Mirza was Sophia Naqvi, one man, one woman. 

They were joined by Zuber Gulamussen, and the ratio changed to 2:1. 

A further three candidates have been announced (for Green St West) and the ratio of candidates has changed yet again to 5:1.

There’s still plenty of time to pick up more candidates, but it is beginning to look a bit like jobs for the boys.

What might be of more concern to the voters is that every current candidate is a Muslim and from the South Asian community.

We are aware that the Independent Group are unlikely to form any formal relationship with Aspire in Tower Hamlets, but they could replicate their campaigning model in Newham. In Tower Hamlets the mayoralty and the council are dominated by a single ethno-religious group. This community comprises roughly one third of the population in the borough, which is, by a strange coincidence, is roughly the same percentage that we are looking at in Newham.