Labour lose long-held city seat to independent

A long-standing Birmingham Labour MP has narrowly lost his seat to an independent candidate.

Khalid Mahmood had represented Birmingham Perry Barr since 2001.

He was beaten by Ayoub Khan, who polled a small majority of about 500 votes, with the Conservative candidate finishing in third place.

Repeating the picture in Perry Barr nationally, Labour has lost a number of former strongholds to independent candidates campaigning on pro-Gaza platforms.

Mr Mahmood dismissed the suggestion that Labour's position on the war in Gaza had been responsible for his defeat.

He added, however, that while he had spoken "openly and firmly" in favour of the Muslim community, the issue of Gaza had been used to "emotionally tug" at voters.

In his victory speech, Ayoub Khan said: "I know that voting for an independent is not an easy thing to do."

He said his campaign had been about justice, fairness and equality, whether that be at local level or beyond.

"Being an MP is not about just addressing matters locally and nationally, but what happens internationally," he said.

Labour has faced growing pressure over its stance on the conflict since Israel launched a military campaign in response to Hamas's attack last year.

In February, Labour called for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza but critics said the party was too slow to adopt the stance.

The party in its manifesto has committed to recognising a Palestinian state.

In Birmingham Ladywood, Shabana Mahmood, shadow justice secretary while in opposition, held off a challenge from independent candidate and lawyer Akhmed Yakoob, who had campaigned on a pro-Gaza ticket.

However, her majority fell from more than 32,000 to 3,421.

Similarly Jess Phillips, who quit the Labour frontbench to vote for a Gaza ceasefire in Parliament last year, also saw her majority slashed from 13,141 to just 693.

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