Green Surge: How the Green Party’s Stance on Gaza Captured Muslim Voters’ Hearts and Their Plan for Lasting Support

The Green Party's position on Gaza attracted Muslim voters, leading to the election of four MPs. Now, the party aims to retain their support through progressive policies.

Political reporter @serenabarksing

Sunday, September 8, 2024, 7:

The Green Party experienced notable success in the recent general elections, a fact they are well aware of.

This weekend, their annual conference was marked by a noticeable surge of excitement, as attendees came equipped with their hemp tote bags and reusable water bottles.

The party openly acknowledged the source of a significant portion of their two million votes. A substantial increase in the British Muslim electorate choosing the Green Party this election contributed to the party's success in gaining four additional MPs. This weekend, it appeared they aimed to further consolidate that backing.

Even before the polls opened, it was widely known that a segment of British Muslims was growing disillusioned with Labour due to its initial position on the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

This negative attitude towards the Labour Party was effectively mobilized by activist organizations such as "The Muslim Vote," which launched a campaign aimed at redirecting votes from the major political parties to those candidates they felt more adequately represented the interests of the Muslim community.

The Muslim electorate is varied and their voting patterns are complex, differing significantly across communities. However, the primary concern that galvanized them in the recent election was the widespread disapproval of Israel's airstrikes on Gaza.

Observing from a distance were the Greens. They were more than willing to occupy the void left by Labour.

Just before the election, Sky's polling indicated a minor "Gaza effect," revealing a notable decline in the approval ratings for the Conservative and Labour leaders among ethnic minority voters after October 7th. IPSOS noted a trend of these voters shifting their support to smaller political parties.

On election night, the most conspicuous example of this was in Bristol Central, where the Green Party achieved its most significant victory.

Thangam Debbonaire, a prominent figure in the Labour Party and the shadow culture secretary, was defeated in her Bristol Central constituency, which has a sizable Somali population, by Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer.

Sir Keir Starmer made a trip to the constituency during the election, possibly indicating that the party recognized her campaign required significant backing.

In constituencies such as Sheffield Central and in parts of east London, where the Green Party finished in second and third place, analysis indicates these areas had substantial Muslim communities.

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Over the weekend, the Green Party selected their singular external media engagement during the conference to be a trip to a mosque in the Conservative-led town of Altrincham, emphasizing their commitment to community involvement. The primary topic of discussion was Gaza.

During his address, Zach Polanski, the deputy leader of the Greens, described the events in Gaza as "genocide," a characterization that Israel has consistently refuted. He urged the Labour Party to halt all arms sales to Israel, beyond the partial suspension of 30 out of 350 arms export licenses that occurred earlier in the week.

I inquired with Adrian Ramsay, the co-leader of the Green Party, if this move was a tactical bid to garner additional votes.

He mentioned, "It was important for me to visit the mosque and connect with the Muslim community, especially considering how vulnerable and targeted they've felt nationwide due to the terrible incidents and chaos linked to political violence over the summer."

"It's crucial that we unite, and equally important that we show solidarity with our Jewish and Muslim communities who are feeling threatened due to the current events in the Middle East."

Fesl Reza-Khan, who joined the party in November, inspired by its position on Gaza, helped establish a Muslim Greens group to mobilize activists throughout the UK.

"Many of us come from minority ethnic groups. My parents originated from South Asia, so our reactions are often instinctual," he explained.

"Looking at Gaza, I realize: 'Wait a minute, that's my story too, that's what my ancestors endured—the occupation, the exploitation, the colonization.'"

"They were naturally dismissing it, and all involved parties denied it, even going so far as to gaslight me by asserting, 'that's not happening, that's not what I'm observing.'"

"I don't require anyone to explain to me what I'm observing and experiencing."

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Many ethnic minorities do not typically consider the Green Party as their preferred political party.

In the recent local elections, the Green Party gained several hundred seats, but less than twelve of these were won by individuals from ethnic minority backgrounds. An insider described the typical perception of their party members as the "crusty old Green member."

They're eager to update and take advantage of what they believe is the dominance of the leading political parties, viewing this as an excellent beginning point.

"An engaged audience, a single opportunity was all we required; Gaza became that pivotal point," Mr. Reza-Khan stated.

"Now that we have their attention, it's becoming clear that the Greens' concerns extend well beyond Gaza. They are remarkably adept at addressing a variety of issues, including family matters, the cost of living, and transportation."

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The party aims to retain many of its new members by highlighting its positions on various progressive topics, notably its opposition to Labour's policies on the two-child benefit cap and modifications to winter fuel allowances.

During the 2017 elections, the Green Party experienced a significant decline in backing, losing over half of its supporters to the more left-leaning policies championed by Labour's leader at the time, Jeremy Corbyn.

If there's one lesson from the 2024 general election, it's that voter behavior can be unpredictable.

Co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay are optimistic that their robust showing in recent elections will serve as a solid base for cultivating enduring support, beginning with communities they believe are most disillusioned with conventional political avenues.

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