LONDON: The Gaza war is a top issue for one in five Asian voters in the UK, The Independent reported on Thursday.
As the British public heads to the polls for the July 4 general election, a new study conducted by the newspaper revealed that some Muslim voters have “lost their trust” in Labour over the party’s stance on the war.
But Labour still “looks set to match their strong national performance” with a high vote share among ethnic minorities in Britain, said Ed Hodgson, research manager at More in Common.
Asian voters are six times more likely to view the war as a “major issue” compared to white voters (20 percent versus 3 percent), it found.
Though Labour may have harmed its reputation with Muslim voters, the issue may only become relevant after the election, Hodgson said.
Party leader Keir Starmer has faced criticism over his decision to avoid calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza in favor of “humanitarian pauses.”
The poll “highlights significant concerns across Muslim communities and wider British society,” said Zara Mohammed, general secretary of the Muslim Council of Britain.
“Many are pained by what is happening in Gaza and are dissatisfied with the political response from the major parties and the current leadership,” she added.
“There is also a strong desire to ensure that Britain is not complicit in the ongoing genocide case against Israel.
“For the upcoming election, it will be crucial for the next prime minister and government to effectively achieve a long-term peaceful solution in the Middle East.”
According to the poll, 19 percent of Asian voters say a Labour victory would make their life worse.
