SENIOR Labour MP Shabana Mahmood is in danger of losing her safe Birmingham seat to an independent challenger amid anger over her support for the party’s position on Gaza.
Lawyer Akhmed Yakoob, who gained 20 per cent of the vote across Birmingham in the recent West Midlands mayoral election, topping polls in four of the city’s seats, is aiming for a shock victory against the shadow justice secretary.
Ms Mahmood enjoys a majority of more than 28,000 and secured nearly 80 per cent of the 2019 vote in the Ladywood constituency, so beating her may seem an impossibility. Interviewed by the Star in his office in the heart of the constituency, however, Mr Yakoob is not daunted.
“She can’t actively campaign in certain areas in Ladywood,” he said, such is her unpopularity over Gaza.
“That’s how frustrated people are with her.
“Why has Shabana Mahmood been silent? “ Mr Yakoob asked. “She abstained in the ceasefire vote last November when 5,000 children had already died.
“She is controlled by the party whip and not by what her constituents want.
“I have a very good chance of winning. Seventy-five per cent of the public want a ceasefire, want peace.
“What people can see on their phones is like a horror story and they ask — why are they allowed to do this while the whole world watches?”
Ladywood, in central and inner-city Birmingham, is a diverse constituency with myriad problems. Born in the area with his father a milkman, Mr Yakoob says he is well aware of the constituency’s issues.
He said: “Birmingham council is bankrupt. Ladywood has one of the busiest job centres in the city and homelessness and housing are major issue.”
NHS response times are poor across the seat and local libraries are closing down as a result of the municipal bankruptcy.
“There is no sign of levelling up around here,” the candidate adds.
But many voters are able to raise their eyes from the demands of daily life to use their vote for global justice.
“Lend Gaza your vote,” was Mr Yaqoob’s mayoral pitch — and it may be enough to seal Ms Mahmood’s fate.
