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muriel_volestrangler

(103,262 posts)
5. I'm surprised there wasn't more coverage of the 11.7% the independent Akhmed Yakoob got in West Midlands
Sun May 5, 2024, 06:56 AM
May 2024

He's wondering about joining Galloway's party, and I think we can take his showing as part of the backlash about Gaza.

Labour got 37.8%, Tories 37.5%, and Yakoob 11.7% - more than twice any of the candidates below that.
https://news.sky.com/story/follow-the-mayoral-election-results-live-here-13125693

From nowhere, the lawyer with a Tik Tok strategy has caused a political earthquake that's left the traditional parties reeling - not least the Labour Party. He couldn't quite keep Richard Parker out of the mayor's hot seat, but it would be 'crazy' to ignore the massive impact he has made, says Yardley MP Jess Phillips.

He has caused chaos, and he loves it. Off the back of widespread anger and frustration over the mainstream parties' reluctance to go all in on Israel over Gaza and demand an urgent ceasefire, he launched a pro Palestine campaign that's gone viral.

In Birmingham, more than 42,000 people, largely in inner city areas of East and West Birmingham, gave him their backing. It meant the Labour vote tanked in some areas that had previously been all red, just when it ought to have been free to capitalise on distaste for the Conservative party.
...
In all he secured 69,621 votes. Now he is eyeing up joining George Galloway's Workers Party of GB ahead of a tilt at the Ladywood constituency in Birmingham in the General Election, though thinks he might be better staying independent. "It's possible but I'm still working things out," he said today.

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/akhmed-yakoob-says-this-earthquake-29114940

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