Leanne Mohamad
Leanne Mohammed | |
|---|---|
| Education | King's College London |
| Occupation(s) | Public speaker Activist |
| Known for | Candidate in the 2024 United Kingdom general election |
| Political party | Independent |
| Website | https://www.leannemohamad.co.uk/ |
Leanne Mohamad is a British-Palestinian activist who ran as an independent candidate in the constituency of Ilford North in the 2024 general election, against the Labour Party incumbent and then Shadow Secretary for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting. She ran in protest against Labour's stance on the Israel-Hamas war and the Gaza humanitarian crisis.[1]
While she was not elected, Streeting's unexpectedly narrow margin of victory provoked media and political attention, especially in the context of the simultaneous victory of several independent candidates against Labour running on platforms critical of the party's response to the conflict.[2][3][4]
Biography
Leanne Mohamad was raised in Ilford, East London, by Palestinian parents.[5]
In 2016, while a 15 year-old student of Wanstead High School, she gave a speech on the plight faced by Palestinians for the Jack Petchey Foundation's "Speak Out" Challenge. She won the Redbridge borough final, but faced online harassment and accusations of blood libel after the video of her speech was published online. In response, the Foundation's Speakers Trust briefly removed the video from their YouTube channel citing safeguarding concerns, before reinstating it after consulting with her family. Wes Streeting, in his capacity as the local MP for Ilford North, condemned the abuse and argued that it could not be considered antisemitic.[6][7]
2024 election campaign
In January 2024, Mohamad was selected by the Redbridge Community Action Group as a prospective independent candidate in Ilford North for the upcoming general election. This came following local controversy and backlash regarding Streeting's response to the Israel-Hamas war and the Gaza humanitarian crisis, along with national criticism of comments made by Labour leader Keir Starmer that Israel "absolutely has the right" to totally cut off power and water supplies to the Gaza Strip; he later called for a ceasefire.[8][9]
Mohamad ran as an independent candidate in the constituency of Ilford North in the 2024 general election, against Streeting. She ran in protest against Labour's stance on the Israel-Hamas war and the Gaza humanitarian crisis, and also criticised Streeting's record as a local MP.[1] While she was not elected, Streeting's unexpectedly narrow margin of victory provoked media and political attention, especially in the context of the simultaneous victory of several independent candidates against Labour running on platforms critical of the party's response to the conflict.[2][3][4]
References
- ^ a b Mulla, Imran (2024-07-05). "UK election 2024: British-Palestinian Leanne Mohamad narrowly loses to Labour's Wes Streeting". Middle East Eye. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ a b "Pro-Gaza candidates dent Labour's UK election victory". Reuters. 2024-07-05.
- ^ a b "Pro-Gaza candidates squeeze Labour vote in some constituencies". BBC News. 2024-07-05.
- ^ a b Tahir, Tariq (2024-07-07). "Leanne Mohamed supporters hope for more after giving Labour cabinet minister scare". The National.
- ^ Rickett, Oscar (2024-06-21). "Leanne Mohamad: Could anger over Gaza topple a Labour heavyweight?". Middle East Eye.
- ^ Dearden, Lizzie (2016-06-07). "London schoolgirl targeted with 'appalling' online abuse after winning competition with pro-Palestinian speech". The Independent.
- ^ Farand, Chloe (2016-06-01). "Wanstead schoolgirl Leanne Mohamad speaks out after 'vile abuse' from trolls for pro-Palestinian speech". Ilford Recorder.
- ^ Carter, Rob (2024-01-16). "Palestinian candidate to battle Labour's Wes Streeting in Ilford North". 5Pillars.
- ^ Keane, Daniel (2024-01-16). "Pro-Palestinian activist to run against Wes Streeting in election for Ilford North". The Standard.
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