I must commend and congratulate MPAC, firstly, for their relentless single minded campaign to encourage Muslims to vote and participate in the political process. Secondly, in recognising the fact that Ken Livingstone is the best choice for London and in particular the Muslim community, and highlighting the dangers of a win for the Tory Boris Johnson. However, I would like to take issue with the approach, and method of this campaign. 

The leaflet which compares the two Mayoral candidates has two problems; firstly, it is misleading. Secondly, in trying to back Ken, MPAC are inadvertently, supporting New Labour in two ways:

1. By putting down ‘Labour’ under Ken’s name, most people will, and I believe are, concluding that MPAC are also backing New Labour, with it’s very poor record on Muslim affairs in recent times.

2. The leaflet is factually incorrect. There is a striking difference between Ken and New Labour on all three issues which the two candidates are being compared on.

Fighting racism and Islamophobia

Ken may be an outspoken defender of Muslims, but you will be hard pressed to find anyone worth their name within the New Labour administration who will stick their necks out defending Muslims even when it is unpopular. The classic case is when Jack Straw attacked Muslim women’s right to wear the nikab. It does not matter what opinion you have on the actual nikab, every Muslim woman has the right, religious, political, spiritual and moral, to wear it if they so choose. I remember, how politicians from all persuasions were, (except Respect, of course) bending over backwards to join the ‘Muslim bashing’.

Spending on public services and not Bush’s war on Iraq

Hardly a policy of New Labour which took us into an illegal war, and is finding £3.2 billion a year on it, while in the same breath telling people there is no money for public services!

Speaking out against Israel’s human rights abuses

What can I say? Do I need to say anything? Recently when 100 civilians were killed by Israeli aggression in one single attack, David Milliband, Foreign Secretary came out and argued why Israel has the right to defend itself. Come to think of it, when was the last time any politician of any party, made even a proportionate criticism of both sides in the conflict, let alone sympathise with the innocent Palestinians being murdered by Israel on a daily basis?

I urge MPAC, to protect its neutrality, and not be accused of supporting the party of war, or before New Labour benefit from their hard work, should quickly, dissociate themselves from New Labour and make it clear, for people not to vote for New Labour, especially in City & East London, where there is an alternative, a viable alternative in place, and better still, a Muslim who is capable of winning against New Labour!

Remember, the reality on the ground in East London is that Respect is the second largest party, the only challenger to New Labour’s warmongering and anti-Muslim policies. Here, Respect is the mainstream!

I would be happy to discuss the rationale behind supporting Respect in East London, and MPAC’s leadership if given the opportunity.

I hope this constructive criticism will be taken in the spirit of brotherly advice, as it is meant.

Cllr Hanif Abdulmuhit

Respect candidate for the City & East London constituency for the GLA

www.abdulmuhit.co.uk

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