Labour could struggle to hold on to seats in areas with high Muslim populations due to the party’s stance on the Gaza conflict, insiders have warned

Senior Labour MPs in seats with a high Muslim population could struggle to hold on to their constituencies due to the party’s stance on the Gaza conflict, insiders have warned.

Sir Keir Starmer’s party saw their vote share fall by 39 per cent in Muslim-majority wards in the local elections earlier this month.

The party have evolved their position in recent weeks, with shadow ministers backing an immediate cessation of hostilities and calling for the suspension of arms sales to Israel.

But some in the traditionally loyal voter base opted for the Green Party or independent candidates due to Labour’s initial failure to call for a ceasefire in Gaza in November.

In February, anti-war firebrand George Galloway won a parliamentary by-election in Rochdale on a pro-Palestinian ticket, and dedicated his victory to the people of Gaza.

George Galloway speaking to the media after he announced the Worker’s Party’s general election candidates

Green councillor Mothin Ali called his local election victory a ‘win for the people of Gaza’ and later apologised

Two weeks ago in the West Midlands mayoral race, many voters abandoned Labour in favour of the independent Akhmed Yakoob, who earned almost 70,000 votes.

And earlier this month Green Party councillor Mothin Ali provoked outrage when he shouted ‘Allahu Akbar’ after being elected in Leeds.

A recent poll by Savanta showed the most important issues to British Muslims were the cost of living, the NHS, and the economy, followed by Israel-Gaza.

Now, a series of pro-Palestinian independents have lined up to challenge senior Labour MPs and ‘punish’ the party over their Gaza stance.

In Ilford North – where 23 per cent of the electorate is Muslim – Leanne Mohamad will challenge shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, while former South African MP Andrew Feinstein will stand against Sir Keir himself in Holborn and St Pancras. A senior Labour insider said: ‘Wes [Streeting], Shabana [Mahmood], Rushanara [Ali], Jess [Phillips] and others will have real fights on their hands.

‘Independents showed they can make gains in the locals which will bolster their campaigns and also give wavering voters a bit of a nudge towards them.’

Campaign group The Muslim Vote has also issued 18 demands to Labour, including an apology for its stance on Gaza, or it would tell its supporters to vote for the Greens or Liberal Democrats.

When asked about losing traditionally loyal voters over issues such as Gaza, Sir Keir said: ‘You don’t have to be tribally Labour to want your country to improve. Most reasonable tolerant people in this country do want to see their country move forward.

‘And I say this changed Labour party is a party for you. This project of national renewal is a project for you.’

Former South African MP Andrew Feinstein (pictured) will stand against Sir Keir himself in Holborn and St Pancras

When asked about losing traditionally loyal voters over issues such as Gaza, Sir Keir said: ‘You don’t have to be tribally Labour to want your country to improve’

After the local elections, Labour national campaign coordinator Pat McFadden said: ‘I’m not surprised that people have strong feelings about this issue. And so many thousands of innocent people have been killed and people want it to stop, and we do too. We’ll work hard to get that support back.’

Ali Milani, the chairman of the Labour Muslim Network, said: ‘This changed Labour Party cannot leave Muslim voters in the rearview mirrors. We cannot dismantle a decades-long relationship between Muslim voters and the Labour Party.’