Faiza Shaheen, a British-Pakistani academic and former Labour Party candidate, has resigned from the party, accusing it of systemic racism.
Faiza Shaheen was poised to contest the Chingford and Woodford Green seat currently held by Iain Duncan Smith. However, the Labour Party suspended her candidacy following her endorsement of social media posts that criticized Israel and its policies in Gaza.
The Labour Party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) made her suspension official, refusing to endorse her as a candidate. Shaheen, known for her vocal stance against Islamophobia and racism, expressed her disillusionment, citing a “sham process” and “spurious reasons” for her removal. She announced plans to stand as an independent against Labour possibly and will disclose her decision next Wednesday.
Shaheen described her departure from the party as “crushing,” especially as she felt it was a critical time to challenge Conservative policies on public spending and inequality. She highlighted her experiences of “unfair treatment, bullying, and hostility” within the party, particularly around issues of Islamophobia, which she felt were not adequately addressed.
The situation escalated when Labour replaced her with a member of the Jewish Labour Movement, Shama Tatler, intensifying internal party conflicts. The left-wing group Momentum criticized Labour leader Keir Starmer for his role in what they called a “hyper-factional war on the Left,” arguing that Shaheen was unfairly targeted.
In response, a Labour spokesperson stated that the party focuses on electing a Labour government to deliver necessary changes for people in Chingford, Woodford Green, and beyond.
