Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader, has announced the formation of a parliamentary alliance with four independent MPs elected on pro-Gaza platforms. This new group, which will have as many MPs as Reform UK and the Democratic Unionist Party, and more than the Green Party and Plaid Cymru, aims to challenge austerity and advocate on issues like the winter fuel allowance, the two-child benefit cap, and arms sales to Israel.
The alliance, which includes MPs Shockat Adam, Ayoub Khan, Adnan Hussain, and Iqbal Mohamed, is calling on other MPs to join their cause. In a statement, the MPs expressed their commitment to offering a real alternative to the current government’s policies. “We were elected by our constituents to provide hope in a parliament of despair,” they said, criticizing the government’s decisions to scrap the winter fuel allowance for millions of pensioners and maintain the two-child benefits cap.
Corbyn, who now serves as an independent MP for Islington North after being barred from standing as a Labour candidate, emphasized the collective power of the group. He said, “As individuals, we were voted by our constituents to represent their concerns in parliament on these matters, and more, and we believe that as a collective group, we can carry on doing this with greater effect.”
The Independent Alliance, as the group is known, will not function as a political party but seeks to gain more parliamentary time to raise questions and participate in debates. Although there is no formal agreement yet, the group has requested Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to allocate them a similar number of speaking slots as other small parties, including being added to the rota for Prime Minister’s Questions.
The alliance has been active since before the summer recess, issuing joint statements and signing letters to the government. They have also expressed solidarity with the suspended Labour MPs, including former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, saying they look forward to working closely with them.
The election of these independent MPs, from constituencies with high Muslim populations, has caused significant concern within Labour, reflecting dissatisfaction with the party’s stance on the Gaza conflict. However, the group has clarified that their focus extends beyond Gaza, addressing issues such as housing and poverty. Recently, they wrote to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper about the targeting of Muslim communities during far-right riots.
In response, Conservative leadership candidate Kemi Badenoch criticized the group, expressing concern over what she described as “sectarian Islamist politics” influencing the election of these MPs.
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