Faiza Shaheen may well have snookered Labour in Chingford

  • Post last modified:June 24, 2024
  • Reading time:11 mins read


In May, the Labour Party barred Faiza Shaheen from standing as a candidate in the upcoming general election. Her crime? Retweeting a globally famous Jewish satirist:

Not to be beaten, Shaheen opted to stand as an independent in the seat of Chingford & Woodford Green. Given that the seat is the home of former Tory leader and societal haemorrhoid Iain Duncan Smith, it’s a key target for the Labour Party. It’s Shaheen, however, who is resonating with local people:

Popular support

After being blocked from standing, Faiza Shaheen quit the Labour Party so she could stand as an independent:

By standing for something other than the worst that humanity has to offer, Shaheen has been able to attract support from her fellow human beings. Among them is snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan:

O’Sullivan spoke alongside Shaheen at the event which took place on Sunday 23 June:

Turnout was strong:

As Shaheen herself posted:

We’re not the sort of people to just do what we’re told. We won’t blindly accept the political status quo. We’re going to demand more.

Who stands for Labour shows what Labour stands for

In addition to be a prominent left-wing voice, Faiza Shaheen is an “economist, writer, and commentator” according to the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The LSE further adds:

She is the author of a range of materials and publications covering the most salient social and economic debates of our times, including inequality, austerity, immigration, youth unemployment and social mobility. Faiza has over 15 years of experience researching the trends and consequences of inequality, as well as designing policies and campaigns to address the causes of inequality and exclusion.

It’s not surprising that Labour would want to get rid of Shaheen given that its political programme is already being exposed as austerity masquerading as ‘change’. It’s also not surprising that shifty Sir Keir of Nowhere glowingly endorsed her in the past, as Starmer doesn’t so much hold opinions as temporarily store them in the empty vessel of his mind:

Describing herself and what she can offer the local constituency, Shaheen writes:

I know your problems because I have experienced them myself, whether it’s the morning traffic deadlock on Chingford Mount or Woodford High Road, worrying about funding for your local school, not being able to find adequate mental health or social care support for a relative, struggling to find money to put in your pre-payment electricity meter, or worrying about how you’re going to keep your business afloat. It is because of this that I’m running – I know that my experience, skills and commitment can make a difference.

Without a new generation of political leaders that understand the importance of public services, that fight for decent opportunities for all children regardless of their family background and who understand the change needed to halt the climate crisis, we are not going to be able to turn this country around and give the next generation the future they deserve.

Compare Shaheen to Luke Akehurst, who Labour has parachuted into what they hope is a safe seat in the north:

 

The self-described “Zionist shitlord” has drawn significant criticism for his stance of supporting Israel’s alleged genocide in Gaza (‘alleged’ in the legal sense – not in the sense that we disagree with the accusation):

Akehurst’s ardent support of Israel includes criticism of Jewish people who don’t align with his opinions:

Akehurst is not Jewish himself.

Faiza Shaheen: Change (Actually)

Starmer’s manifesto has taken the Labour right’s ethos to its logical conclusion: a joyless figure standing beside a hollow slogan on the cover of a document that’s filled with empty promises:

The Labour Manifesto which features a greyscale Keir Starmer on the front page next to the word 'change'The Labour Manifesto which features a greyscale Keir Starmer on the front page next to the word 'change'

It’s no wonder there’s no place for a politician like Faiza Shaheen in this version of the Labour Party, but that doesn’t mean there’s no place for her in parliament.

Let’s hope both the Tories and Labour lose Chingford and Woodford Green in the upcoming election. Or, to put it in snooker terms, let’s hope a chipped ball hits them in the pocket. The Canary fully backs Faiza Shaheen.

Featured image via Guardian / GBNews / Faiza Shaheen





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