Muslim voters could influence the outcome of more than thirty marginal UK constituencies in next month general election, according to research published as mosques across the country launches nationwide registration drive.
The Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) has identified 31 marginal seats in which Muslim voters could have “high” or “medium” impact. The analysis released on Monday compares the number of Muslims of voting age in each constituency with the results of the 2017 General Election.
Top of the list is Kensington in west London, where the Labour candidate, Emma Dent Coad, is defending a majority of 20 against a strong challenge from the Liberal Democrat candidate, Sam Gyimah. Nine per cent of the constituency’s voting age population is Muslim – estimated at 5,431, or 271 times Dent Coad’s majority.
According to the country’s leading British Muslim representative findings, the list of seats where Muslim votes could have impact includes London’s Harrow East constituency of MP Bob Blackman, Conservative Friend of India who recently claimed that entire Kashmir belongs to the India. Bob current majority is 1757 and there are around 6000 Muslim votes. Similarly, Richmond Park in central London where the Conservative candidate and brother of Jemima Khan Zac Goldsmith is defending a majority of 45 while there are around 4000 Muslim voters.
Richard Harrington, conservative MP for Watford and Friend of Kashmir is defending majority of 2092 and the member of Muslim registered votes in his constituency are more than 4000 majority of them Kashmir’s who would support him. 14 of the 31 seats are held by Labour, 14 by the Conservatives and three by the SNP.
Both the British mainstream parties ruling Conservative and Labour are vying to win over the Muslims votes keeping in view the close contest between the both parties. Last week Prime Minister Boris Johnson starting his election campaign in London by visiting the central Mosque, while on other hand Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is relying on Muslims as historically, they supports Labour and party leader Corbyn is enjoying support and respect among the Muslim and ethnic communities for his stance on the issues related to them.
However, there are some anger among British Pakistanis over the Labour’s London Mayor Sadiq Khan support to the Pro Indian MP’s to ban the Kashmir march outside Indian mission in London. Even PM Johnson is facing a young Muslim 25-year Labour candidate Ali Milani at his London’s Uxbridge and South Ruislip constituency. In 2007 election, Boris Johnson majority was reduced to just 5000 votes and this time Ali supported by the young voters battling to oust Johnson from his own seat. The party sources warned the PM Johnson of potential risk of losing the seat.
Due to the significance of Muslims population in the UK, MCB is encouraging all Muslims to register to vote and help others to register to vote as well as calling on political parties and prospective candidates to commit to a set of pledges ahead of the General Election.
MCB Secretary General, Harun Khan, said: “It is essential that British Muslims, alongside their fellow Britons, play a role in this generationally important election. “The ongoing Islamophobia scandal in our country’s governing party, as well as cases of racism and discrimination across political divides, underscore this even more, she added.
Khan said “Far from being a monolith, British Muslim communities have a range of concerns and priorities, and these election pledges will help them see who aligns with them – whichever party they belong to.
Tackle Racism and Islamophobia, Religious liberty, Engagement with Muslim Communities, Effective Health and Elderly Care Services and refugees are some of the issues on which the MCP wants clear commitments from all the parties during the election.
