Nu Labour is dead - What next for British Muslims?

So it's almost done - the dawn of Nu Labour is over! Whether it was Tony or Gordon the end was inevitable.


There is much scorn over Tony's decision to invade Iraq and I wont digress into his special relationship with George W Bush. The interesting thing here, though, is not that Tony ignored the views of millions of British citizens or the fact the legality of the war was suspect but the fact that when it came to the vote in Parliament many Labour MP's supported the war. There is nothing new here other than the fact that these same Labour MP's probably have a sizeable Muslim population in their respective constituencies that either don't know that their local MP voted for the war or don't care to know.


What's my point? Well with an upcoming general election these same MP's will start their campaigns promoting and celebrating what they have done for their communities whilst all the while praying that no one cares to question their parties views on Iraq, Afghanistan or indeed the Muslim 'problem'. I know of one town, Rotherham, in the north of England where Dennis Mcshane MP backed the war. Dennis will do his best to be re-elected and I know with almost certainty that he will be successful. How? Well whilst the British Armed forces are bravely doing what our leaders are asking of them in the name of international democracy - rightly or wrongly - our MP's will do little to promote local democracy. It is better that British Pakistani Muslims are kept ignorant and do NOT get involved in local politics. Outrage! Of course you know many hundreds of Pakistani Muslims that are actively involved in local politics... This is indeed correct BUT, ask some simple questions - when they were out canvassing for themselves and when they will be out canvassing for their local Labour MP how will they answer the questions about;

1. How they justified the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine to their voters - when the Labour party supported them?
2. How did they muster local support to lobby the government against the same wars?
3. How are they actively promoting local democracy especially with regards to the governments Prevent Violent Extremism strategy in their local area?

It is a sad reflection of the British Muslim community that, like the first generation of immigrants, voting Labour is the default option.... This does not mean that there is not an appetite for change. Let me assure you there is but these same councillors and MP's are seemingly doing their best to ensure that change is difficult to achieve....

PassionateVoice

(image: Robin Dude)