Internal differences were seen in the Hounslow Labour Party, where several councillors including Riyaz Gul, Gurvinder Sidhu and former mayor Afzaal Kiani left the Labour Party
Analysis Wajahat Ali Khan
The recent local elections in England have not only changed the balance of power of political parties but have also raised several important questions for British Pakistani politics. The political landscape has changed in areas that were considered strongholds of the Pakistani or Muslim vote bank for decades. On the other hand, in some areas, candidates of Pakistani origin maintained their presence, making it clear that the issue is not only about ethnic identity but also about local politics, party affiliation and public trust. However, in several boroughs, especially the Labour Party candidates faced many defeats,
The biggest losers were those councillors of Pakistani origin who were contesting elections on the Labour Party ticket from wards that were traditionally considered safe. In several areas of London, the West Midlands, Yorkshire and the Northwest, Labour’s vote fell significantly and independent candidates, especially the Green Party and the Reform Party, performed better in various seats. In some areas, Reform’s extraordinary progress also harmed candidates from traditional parties, including politicians of Pakistani origin. The party won a significant number of seats in several councils and changed the landscape of local politics.
Now the million-dollar question is what are the real reasons for this loss?
1. Dissatisfaction with the Labour Party. A large number of British Pakistani voters have long been supporters of Labour, but in recent times, some of the government’s policies, immigration, cuts in benefits, economic issues and the party’s stance on international affairs, especially the Gaza issue, have disappointed many voters, resulting in the party’s traditional vote bank being divided.
2. Muslim voter fragmentation. This time in many constituencies Muslim voters did not remain with just one party but also went towards independent candidates, the Green Party and other political forces. This division reduced the chances of victory of many Pakistani-origin Labour candidates.
3. Local rather than national issues. Such as inflation, housing, council tax, sanitation, transport and local services, influenced voters’ decisions more. The tendency to vote solely based on community or ethnic identity was less than before.
4. The emergence of new political forces, for example, the strong performance of the Green Party, challenged the traditional two-party system. This change also affected those Pakistani candidates who relied solely on Labour’s strong vote bank.
But the question is, is this just a story of loss?
Interestingly, the overall picture is not one-sided. According to various analyses, a record number of Muslim councillors were also elected in these elections in England, including many candidates of Pakistani origin. The difference is that many of these candidates won as independents or on platforms of other parties rather than Labour.
The recent local elections in England have made it clear that British Pakistani politics has entered a new phase. Community or traditional party affiliation alone is no longer a guarantee of success. Voters are more informed, more demanding and are placing more importance on local performance.
If politicians of Pakistani origin want to maintain their political power, they will have to offer better local governance, transparent performance and practical solutions to public problems, rather than just claiming to represent the community. This is the path that can bring them back to a strong political position in the future.
In the London borough of Hounslow, which was considered a stronghold of the Labour Party, the Labour Party managed to retain its government in the recent 2026 local elections, but its political power decreased significantly, and it suffered a major setback compared to the previous elections.
The total seats here are 62, the Labour Party won 32 seats, the Conservative Party 17 seats, Reform 8 seats, the Greens 3 seats, the Liberal Democrats 1 seat and an independent candidate won.
Thus, Labour retained its control of the council with a narrow majority of only one seat, while in 2022 it had a strong majority of 52 seats. Thus, Labour had to suffer a loss of almost 20 seats, which is being considered a major setback in Hounslow’s recent political history.
While Reform gained 8 seats for the first time and established its strong presence in West Hounslow. The Conservative Party also increased its seats, while the Green Party also made progress. A major reason for the loss of many seats by the Hounslow Council Labour Party was internal differences, including the differences over Hounslow Jamia Mosque. Before the election, internal differences were seen in the Hounslow Labour Party, where several councillors including Riyaz Gul, Gurvinder Sidhu and former mayor Afzal Kayani left the Labour Party and became independents or joined another party, which created organisational weakness. However, based on political analysis, it can be said that the Muslim vote was divided. Differences within the mosque and the community weakened political unity in some areas.
Different groups supported different candidates or parties, which did not give Labour the traditional one-sided support because if a dispute arose in a religious or social institution, it could also affect local political figures, especially if their name or affiliation came into the discussion. All these figures clearly point to the fact that Hounslow politics has entered a new era, where voters are more informed than ever and their decisions seem to be based on performance, trust and public service rather than just community or traditional affiliation.
In the future, Hounslow politics will not be enough to rely on traditional community votes alone, but local performance, public relations and strong organisational structures will play a more important role.
Therefore, it can be said with great certainty that internal divisions and pointless fights will clearly harm not only Hounslow but also Muslims and most Pakistanis across the UK because the right and far-right thinking is being strengthened in this country, which is now openly opposing those who come from outside!!
