Following their successful reelection in the UK General Election 2019, two female MPs have spoken out about the harassment and intimidation they experienced during their campaigns. Both Labour politicians, Shabana Mahmood and Jess Phillips recounted stories of party workers being filmed on the street, regular calls to police, harassment of community members during a meeting and disruption by masked men. Mahmood highlighted that these actions were “an assault on democracy itself”.
While both MPs were successful in the election, their majorities had reduced. For Phillips, this was the worst election that she had stood in, with victory being achieved by just 689 votes. Both MPs also had competition from candidates who focused their campaigns on pro-Gaza tickets. Mahmood’s speech was accompanied by a police presence, following reports of physical threats that had been made against her.
Baroness Shaista Gohir, who leads the national Muslim Women’s Network UK, stated that she was very concerned about the harassment that was suffered by female candidates, particularly in areas where there is a significant Muslim electorate. Gohir added that it was sending a message to women that they should not get into politics. Following the election, a number of West Midlands police officers were stationed at polling stations to offer reassurance and ensure public safety.
The election was a noisy affair, with heckling and booing from onlookers, particularly during the victory speeches of Labour MPs. Returning officers had to threaten to have people removed from the venue. The MPs who were successful in the elections pledged to work hard to unite their communities and regain trust over the issue of Gaza
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