Your say / Politics
‘My decision to leave Labour is based on deep disappointment’
After much reflection, I have made the difficult decision to leave the Labour Party.
I joined Labour seven years ago to fight for fairness, compassion and social justice. Values that inspired me to serve the people of Frome Vale and that have guided every decision I’ve made as a councillor.
Sadly, I no longer recognise those values in the national Labour Party.
Over time, it has become apparent that the party left me, rather than the other way around – making myself and many others on the left in Labour politically homeless.
My decision is based on the deep disappointment with the direction of the national leadership.
Their refusal to take the idea of a wealth tax seriously, while allowing cuts that target the elderly, disabled, and most vulnerable, represents a betrayal of the principles the party was founded on and an attack on the working class who are already struggling so much with the rising costs of living.
Labour was built off of the back of unions and yet we have all seen these same unions attacked by the government, and framed to be greedy and selfish for standing up for workers.
I am also concerned by the party’s increasingly authoritarian approach, from steps taken to restrict repeat demonstrations in support of Palestine, to the political decision to ban Palestine Action despite countless examples of historic direct action groups such as the Suffragettes, carrying out much worse violence and yet with the power of hindsight are now seen as having been justified in their protest.
These measures undermine the fundamental rights to peaceful protest and free speech that every citizen should enjoy.
Furthermore, the continued sale of arms to Israel, in addition to providing political cover for Israel in the face of what has been defined by the UN as a genocide against the Palestinian people is morally indefensible and repugnant.
Our response should be guided by humanity and international law, not political calculation.
At the same time, I am deeply troubled by Labour’s decision to echo Reform UK’s divisive rhetoric on immigration, rather than standing up for truth, decency and the value of every human being.
I believe that is a foolish way to try to beat Reform and only isolates Labour’s progressive base voters.
I want to make it absolutely clear that this decision is not a reflection on my local Labour colleagues, who continue to work hard for their communities and hold fast to the principles that once defined our movement.
My respect and gratitude for them remain unchanged and I leave them with a heavy heart and thank them for all the support they have given me over the last year and a half.
My commitment to the residents of Frome Vale will continue as normal.
I will continue working hard on their behalf and will do my best to improve the community and give residents a voice at the table as a Green Party councillor.
I will never stop standing up for equality, justice and the right to speak truth to power. The same principles that first brought me into public life.
This is an opinion piece by Alsayed Al-Maghrabi, a councillor for Frome Vale who has defected from Labour to the Greens
Main photo: Alsayed Al-Maghrabi
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