“It is the end of a systematic campaign of racism, Islamophobia and bullying from some within the party which began when I first announced that I wanted to run for Labour again.”
Following the factional late removal of Faiza Shaheen as Labour’s candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in the General Election, Faiza has released the following public statement.
At 9pm last night I learned by email that Labour has removed me as its candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green, less than six weeks before the General Election. The day before, I received an email from the Labour Party summoning me to a “change of circumstances” interview at 6pm that day. At no point did anyone speak to me personally.
My husband was at work and I undertook the interview with three members of Labours national executive – Michael Wheeler, Gurinder Singh Josan and Wendy Nichols – with a crying baby on my lap, with no time to prepare, and suffering from mastitis. My friend, Dawn Butler MP, was allowed into the virtual meeting with me but was told she must stay silent.
The thrust of the questioning was that I had “liked” posts including historic tweets liking Green Party candidates, and criticising Israel and its action in Gaza, and, as a result, I was damaging Labour’s electoral chances. For the record, I immediately condemned the actions of Hamas on October 7th. I support the immediate release of Israeli hostages and organised a vigil with local rabbis, imams, priests and reverends straight after the attack, allowing local people to grieve and reflect together.
I do not see this position as incompatible with the view that there should also be a ceasefire in Gaza, where thousands of women and children have been killed, and humanitarian aid is being denied to starving citizens who are not responsible for the actions of terrorists.
Seats like ours are crucial if Labour is to form the next Government and I have worked tirelessly for over six years to elect our first ever Labour MP here. On the doorstep, one of the key concerns voters have is Gaza, with many angry at the position the national party has taken. I have gone out of my way to address their concerns and persuade them that Labour is still the right choice for the country and that we are worthy of their vote.
It has been challenging for me to fight the campaign with a newborn baby but I have built solid support here for Labour. I have good relationships with local businesses and community groups and everywhere I go people stop me in the street to talk to me about their hopes for change in this marginal seat.
I am heartbroken at this decision, but it does not come as a surprise. It is the end of a systematic campaign of racism, Islamophobia and bullying from some within the party which began when I first announced that I wanted to run for Labour again. There are numerous examples of how I have been singled out for unfair treatment. This includes being banned from speaking publicly about my experiences of racism within the party, stripped of a paid party organiser when 7½ months pregnant (the only candidate in a key marginal seat not to have one) and told to “curb the attitude” when I raised that Labour was not taking the concerns of the Muslim community seriously enough. I have not experienced this level of relentless hostility in all my personal or professional life – not even from the Conservatives.
I really wanted to win this seat – I grew up here, went to school here and live here now. I wanted to win for my neighbours and my community because they deserve better. I am so desperately sorry that this has happened but would like to sincerely thank everyone who worked so hard for me and Labour in Chingford & Woodford Green.
Today I have been meeting with my campaign and legal teams to discuss my next steps. This is not the end of my story and I will be releasing all the detail of what has happened to me publicly.
Apart from “liking” the Green Party years before she was a member of the Labour Party she apparently “liked” a dodgy comment which was read out on Newsnight (I think?) and she now
condemns for signing it. However she cannot remember doing this – and in fact apologises for doing so. There is a reason for this in that individuals contribute lengthy posts (eg) on Facebook
where the first sentence or so is uncontroversial but it is immediately followed by a link to “more”
and that is where the dodgy part starts. I guess individuals do not always read past the “more” .. before “liking” the post and fall into a trap. In other words they made a mistake and woe betide if you make a mistake if you also have the “wrong” opinions! .. I need say no more I think!