‘I will be spoiling my West Midlands mayoral vote’ – Palestine protesters anger at political response to Gaza crisis

UK: Pro-Palestine campaigners took to the streets of Birmingham at the start of this week, for the seventh month since the most recent conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October.

Angry at the national political response to the Gaza crisis from all major political parties, activists called on Brummies to use their vote during the upcoming West Midlands mayoral election to send a strong message to party leaders.

Alongside pro-Palestine slogans, activists marched singing chants critical of Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer amid ongoing violence and destruction in the Gaza Strip, where the death toll has reached over 34,000.

Israel has described its latest military incursion of the occupied territories as a retaliation for last year’s October 7 attacks which left 1,139 Israeli citizens dead, according to Bituah Leumi, Israel’s social security agency.

The response has angered millions around the world, with protests, boycotts and student strikes calling for the bombing of Palestine to come to an end.

During the latest rally in Birmingham, organisers confirmed they had only invited West Midlands mayoral candidates who had publicly called for a ceasefire.

Of these, Siobhan Harper-Nunes (Green Party) and Akhmed Yakoob (Independent) joined the demonstration to speak about their commitment to the Palestinian cause, both urging voters to support their candidacy.

On a Gaza ceasefire, Green candidate Siobhan Harper-Nunes said she was concerned by the lack of response from major political parties.

“The Green Party spoke out asking for a ceasefire immediately but there has been silence elsewhere and this gives me real cause for concern.

“Like my previous candidate, I did not think one day let me join those band of politicians who are screwing up our system, who are screwing up our society, and who are screwing up all the progress our forefathers made by giving us the right to vote, the right to demonstrate, and giving us progress.

“I am not a Muslim but I am a Palestinian, and I will speak out every single day as long as there is not a ceasefire.”

Independent candidate Akhmed Yakoob said defending Palestine was a key priority for him.

“You guys coming out here week after week attending protests means that you are on the right side of history, unlike our corrupt politicians who are controlled by their parties, and they can’t even ask for a ceasefire without being sacked from these Zionist parties.

“We have come to a stage where we have to face suppression for simply asking for a ceasefire; when you have the Israeli government bombing hospitals, bombing schools, bombing educational institutes, even bombing cemeteries. Mass graves are being discovered.

“The ICJ – I’m a lawyer by profession – has said there is a plausible case for genocide, yet they still continue. It’s like they are not scared of anyone and they cannot be stopped by anyone.

“But let me tell you something. The Palestinians, when we get together and they are sent videos of us protesting and doing demonstrations on their behalf, trust me it puts a smile on their faces.”

Hamda Mohamed, a voter from Birmingham, joined the protest to exercise her democratic rights.

“We’re here today marching and demonstrating on behalf of the Palestinians. I’m disappointed in our political institutions and the so-called democracy that we live in,” she told Birmingham Live.

“I’m disappointed that our British government is only willing to send aid [to Gaza] and send military equipment and military personnel to Israel.”

But Hamda has faith in people power and hopes the next West Midlands mayor will prioritise local issues while listening to wider social concerns and relaying them to those with influence within their party.

“I sort of want to make sure that we are putting in place a person who looks after the community, who has the best interest of Brummies at heart, and at the end of the day, the local mayor is meant to look after the interests of the constituents and its people.

“Whether that is more funding for the NHS, more youth centres, cuts on crime, all of those things, we need to make sure we put in place someone who cares about those matters.”

Salman Mirza, a voter from Smethwick, has been a staunch supporter of freedom for Palestinians for decades but believes the situation has been exploited by some politicians.

“The mayoral election is about the West Midlands but it is also a platform to raise the question of Palestine,” he said.

“Unfortunately, I’ve looked at all of the candidates, and I will be spoiling my vote saying ‘none of the above – Free Palestine’, because I feel that the people standing are either grifters and opportunists.”

Salman vowed to continue marching for Palestine, regardless of the outcome of local and national elections.

“I’m still surprised that people are still coming out in their numbers to protest for Palestine, but at the same time… that’s why I’m here, we’re still outraged, the murder and the genocide continues so we’re going to continue to come out and say ‘not in our name’.

The other candidates standing for West Midlands mayor are Richard Parker (Labour and Co-operative Party), Andy Street (Conservative and Unionist Party), Sunny Virk (Liberal Democrats), and Elaine Ruth Williams (Reform UK).

The Mayor is the chair of the West Midlands Combined Authority Board and is a direct representative of approximately 2.8 million people.

Voters will go to the polls on Thursday 2 May to elect the mayor for the region, the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the West Midlands, and councillors to local authorities in many areas, with polling stations will be open between 07:00 and 22:00.

West Midlands residents will have received one polling card referencing the mayoral and local elections, and another polling card referencing the Police and Crime Commissioner election, and are required to take along a photo ID in order to cast their vote.

The results of local elections will be announced on 3 May and the results of the Mayoral and Police and Crime Commissioner election are expected to be announced on 4 May.