Pro-Palestine independents determined to shake up UK politics

By Rabia Ali

ISTANBUL (AA) – Andrew Feinstein has the look of a man on a mission, the kind a person has when their purpose is larger than themselves.

The prominent pro-Palestine activist and politician is among the hundreds of independents running in Thursday’s general elections in the UK, an indicator of simmering frustration with mainstream parties over a range of issues, not least their support for Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza.

“Our politics are broken in Britain and in many places in the world,” Feinstein, a former South African parliamentarian who worked under Nelson Mandela, told Anadolu.

“Our politicians have never felt further removed from the people they’re supposed to represent. The most obvious manifestation of that would be on Gaza.”

According to him, 76% of people in Britain, and far more than that in his own constituency of Holborn and St. Pancras, have wanted a cease-fire in Gaza for many months.​​​​​​​

“Not one of our senior politicians has called for that ... This just reflects how decisions are being made in our name, using our money … effectively to do things that we feel incredibly uncomfortable with,” he said.

Feinstein, like the other independents, is determined to challenge the traditional parties and shake up Britain’s politics.

His optimism is high, despite the challenge of facing off directly with Keir Starmer, the Labour Party leader widely tipped to become the next prime minister.

“I do think that from July 4 forward, British politics will never be the same again … because of the number of independent candidates that are contesting and because of the enthusiasm that it has generated around the country,” said Feinstein.

“We want to build a movement that is welcoming to all people in the UK … that will demand a people-centered politics that represents ordinary people who are fed up with our political system. Our objective will not only be to hold our representatives to account, but to actually change the structure and functioning of British politics.”

- Disillusionment with mainstream parties

Over 4,000 candidates are standing in this election, a record number for the UK, and around 10%, or 459, are independents, according to national broadcaster BBC.

Apart from Feinstein, other prominent names include former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, who is standing as an independent after representing the London constituency of Islington North for more than four decades.

Many other independent candidates are disgruntled former members or supporters of the Labour Party, such as Perveen Hussain, who is competing in Halifax, a small town in England.

Hussain, a life coach, comes from a family of lifelong Labour supporters.

For her, the war on Gaza was the turning point, as it became apparent to her that Labour stands firmly with Israel and “had no understanding or sympathy for the plight of the Palestinians.”

“It had been brewing for a long time probably. The anti-Palestinian rhetoric from the Labour Party became increasingly alarming, and the allegations around antisemitism brought about a very anti-Palestine feeling from the Labour membership,” she told Anadolu.

Hussain, whose parents migrated to the UK from Pakistan, pointed out that a majority of those who have been excluded from the Labour Party for accusations of alleged antisemitism are Jewish people who wanted to raise a voice for Palestine.

Nandita Lal, an independent candidate contesting from Tottenham in North London, was also a Labour member during Corbyn’s tenure.

She said the party’s treatment of Corbyn forced her to reevaluate her own position, referring to his suspension and eventual expulsion over an antisemitism controversy.

Another common grievance voiced by independent candidates is what they say is a yawning disconnect that parties such as the Conservatives and Labour have with the public, pointing out that in many places they have nominated candidates who have no links to the locals or their area.

- Defying challenges and odds

As all projections show Labour headed for a landslide win, many independent candidates acknowledge that victory might be hard for them.

Feinstein, who is up against Starmer, knows that his constituency is a “very safe Labour seat.”

“But we honestly believe we can win it because people are so disgruntled, and it would create an earthquake in British politics if that did happen,” he said.

It is incredibly difficult for independents to win in the UK electoral system, he asserted, pointing out that only a handful of people have ever made it to Parliament without a party’s support.

On independents’ prospects in this election, Feinstein said his “feeling is that there could be three or four victories on very important and symbolic seats.”

“The reality is that if any independent candidates win, given the disadvantages we have in the electoral system, it will be an extraordinary achievement,” he said.

“The latest poll that I’ve seen … shows independent candidates amassing about 10% of the vote nationally from zero, which would be extraordinary.”

Similarly, Hussain feels that hers is also a safe Labour seat.

“We hope that they do not win with the majority that they think they are going to win, and we hope that people will use independents to voice their protest,” she said.

“I’m very, very hopeful that we make a strong dent in in Labour’s votes.”

Lal, who is of Indian origin is contesting against Labour’s David Lammy, the shadow foreign secretary who is likely to take over the actual post.

She sees herself as more of an activist and a dissenting voice rather than a politician.

“The unanimous decision of all the smaller groups was that they want to see an independent socialist stand against Lammy in the elections,” she said about her nomination.

“I think all the independents now want to show that there is a left opposition to all of these Labour and Tory candidates all over the country, who are actually grassroots and who see the material conditions that their constituents are facing.”

- Ready for ‘a long fight’

Irrespective of the results, these independent candidates are determined to continue their advocacy for Gaza and Palestinians.

Feinstein, for instance, said the Palestinian cause would be “a central struggle for me for the rest of my life.”

“I joined the ANC (African National Congress) struggle in my teens in South Africa when it was a banned illegal movement, and I was very quickly taught about how the Palestinian struggle is a fraternal struggle with our struggle against apartheid in South Africa,” he explained.

“So, it has been a struggle that I’ve been engaged in for the vast majority of my life...Our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinian people.”

Lal, who has been active in protests against Israel’s deadly war, stressed that the ultimate aim is “an end to the occupation and the apartheid, along with an arms embargo on Israel.”

Hussain, who has been engaged in pro-Palestine activism for the past 15 years, said their main concern in case of a Labour victory will be how the party moves ahead on the issue of Gaza and Palestine.

“We will keep pushing for them to recognize the state of Palestine. We will keep pushing for an immediate cease-fire without preconditions. We’ll keep pushing for the dismantling of the settlements in the West Bank,” she said.

“This has been a long fight, and it looks like it’s going to be even longer, but we will we carry on.”