Labour struggles to hold on to Muslim votes ahead of by-election

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Labour is struggling to hold on to the support of Muslim voters with new polling showing the damage caused by its stance on the Gaza conflict, ahead of a key by-election test in the north-west of England.

Many of the party’s MPs fear a backlash in the previously safe seat of Rochdale when residents head to the polls on February 29 in a vote triggered by the death of veteran Labour MP Tony Lloyd.

About 60 per cent of Muslims surveyed nationally would vote for Labour today, polling carried out by Survation on behalf of the Labour Muslim Network found. This was down from 86 per cent who voted for the party in the last election, according to a 2021 survey.

When undecideds were added, it declined even further to 43 per cent, according to data released on Monday. Conservative support among Muslim voters was down by 4 points to 6 per cent, while the Green party picked up 10 per cent of the vote, an increase of 9 points.

The LMN said the findings underscored how Labour’s response to the war in Gaza “was unacceptable and deeply offensive” to British Muslims. “The Labour leadership must change paths now or risk losing the support of the Muslim community for a generation,” it added.

Candidates standing in Rochdale include George Galloway, a former firebrand leftwing MP who took the seat of Bethnal Green and Bow from Labour in 2005, capitalising on public anger about the Iraq war.

Many Labour MPs are concerned their leadership has been too slow to raise concerns about the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip, which has led to about 27,000 deaths, according to Palestinian officials. In Rochdale, where about 19 per cent of the electorate are Muslim, Galloway will be hoping to fuel a backlash.

One Labour figure familiar with the seat said the party’s vote could be “squeezed” by Galloway on one side and the ex-Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who…