So its another by-election and the MPACUK team have been mobilising in west London and bringing in the troops from as far a field as Tooting and Ilford have started the campaign to get Muslims out in their droves, to as we put it, ‘ kick Labour in the ballots’ and so far how have we fared compared to other election campaigns and compared to other areas? First of all the familiarities: On the whole the campaign was positive and productive, we had hundreds of conversations some ranging from the bizarre to others that enlightened and enlivened the election campaign. The MPACUK team are geared up to produce another kicking for the pro war, Islamophobic Labour party and we are “wearing size 11’s”.

However some of the tragically “amusing” incidents that this intrepid activist encountered were:

The bemsument of many a householder on the up and coming by-election. The lack of comprehension on issues like the war on Iraq, the erosion of civil liberties in the UK and the support Labour gave to Israel’s ethnic cleansing of Beruit and Southern Lebanon. It seems a case of one step forward two steps back when you talk to some of the Ummah

After you get those issues out you’re lucky to get more then a grunt of recognition from some. The lights may be on, but lets be honest, no ones in.

Knock on doors with us and after the first day we defy any Muslim to maintain any real belief that the Ummah’s lot is improving or that the leadership of the Muslims is starting to tackle any of the causes of alienation in this county. Starting with the education of women. A particularly depressing occurrence happened when a Asian Muslim lady in her late 30’s opened the door, and after we finished the introduction asked if she was going to vote and told her the date of the by election (19th of July) she calmly said in a perfect English, “what’s a by-election, is that where we elect the President?” I wasn’t sure if she had hit on a truth and I had missed the point or had hit on a point and missed the truth. I nodded sagely offered up the need to vote and left feeling stunned.

Another gentleman on Southall Broadway, opposite a Mosque, proudly declared he never voted, and when questioned further revealed if he had a secret he was proud of and couldn’t help but share, whispered “ All they want is our vote, All of them!” he winked as if it was a in-joke, a moment of “truth” between “conspirators”. I calmly asked him the obvious question “if all they want is your vote, what do you want before you give it?” “Nothing bruv, what can they give me?” I shook hands to signal the end of the conversation and refrained from saying “A stay courtesy of her Majesty in Broadmoor.”

And so the day wore on, 24 MPACers trod the road to try to encourage the Muslim electorate to get out and vote, tried to educate them on issues that are burning a hole in their very security in this country and door, after door, conversation after conversation, we all continued the long hard day, tiring but ultimately rewarding task of empowering Muslims to get involved in the democratic process.

The ghetto culture that has infected many Muslims, has to be challenged and not by the Government, not by the well meaning liberal elites, but by other Muslims. Young, old, professional and passionate. The Muslim communities must take on the challenges of the 21st Century and every single Muslim woman who is illiterate, every single man who is ignorant, is a damning indictment of our failures to improve the lot of our benighted community and by our concerted effort improve the lot of the wider society. Muslims must start a root and branch renewal of their attitudes and that means getting involved in their direct environment, to the promotion of the betterment of all. Whether that be becoming a School Governor, Councillor, an MP, an activist, or voting citizen. We need to get involved and we need to start now. If policies are made in our name then we had better be part of the decision making process.

Finally the funniest comment for me came from a young Muslim lady, when asked who she would vote for said without irony, ‘I like Tony Lit (Conservative), cause I met him and he said give me a chance and I thought why not, and he has good hair, but I’m not sure if he voted for the war or not. Are the Tories Labour or Conservative, I may not vote!”

In one way she did prove that Muslims are integrating here in Southall, I found our very own Vicky Pollard.

Fund MPACUK having a laugh on the election trail.