To worry that this is a major threat to our democracy?

[Worrydon]

https://themuslimvote.co.uk/.

Ever since learning about the targeted campaign of threats and harassment against MP Jess Phillips, it has become clear that those harassing her, along with other similar independent MPs are being pushed into power by sectarian politics.

many of these independent MPs have gotten in purely off the back of being pro-Gaza, despite not offering any solutions to local issues. Our MPs should represent local and national interests, not exclusively one foreign agenda piece.

This website (the Muslim Vote) encourages people to put in their post code, and it then tells you who to vote for based entirely off their stance on Gaza.

This appears to be allowing religion and sectarianism to corrupt our democracy, and I worry that not enough attention is being paid to this threat.

Hello I’m worried on the basis of what Reform supporters say about women and gays. There is a bizarre crossover of attitudes in some cases with Reform and then these misogynistic men screaming at Philips. Creepy stuff

Intimidation and harassment of candidates is definitely anti- democratic and should have no place in our society - and it IS happening.

Identity politics- where people of one particular ethnic group, gender, race or religion form exclusive political alliances- leads to increasing social fragmentation. I do hope the UK does not go down this route!

No, it seems to be supporters of the candidate in her constituency from George galloway's party. She had a campaigner whose tyres were slashed I believe. Other ones were filmed and yelled at.

And the candidate himself completely ignored her and refused to shake her hand as she went down the row of other candidates after her speech.

YANBU. What has Gaza has got to do with Britain? Absolutely nothing.

Is that you Luke Akehurst?

@Melisha https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/asa-winstanley/israeli-spy-still-working-labour-during-uk-election-campaign

There are many such websites that help you choose who to vote for based on a single issue.

It isn't anti democratic, it is increasing information, and that is pro democratic

That’s absolutely not what the website is doing. https://themuslimvote.co.uk/. mainly encouraged communities to get together and actually talk about voting as they’re mostly disengaged, such as asking people to ask their family members to register to vote. The suggested candidate isn’t based on one policy, it’s what the community have fed up, that’s if they have.

I’ma bit concerned by the posts on MN that fear monger about British Muslims acting together as a community, in this instance just to mobilise to get people voting and talking about it. It’s no different to any other initiative to encourage demographics, such as young people, to become democratically engaged.

Well, we're arming Israel at the same time as funding aid to both the West Bank & Gaza, so not absolutely nothing.

America is also funding the Middle East (not just Israel). Is there a prominent political organisation over there like 'The Muslim Vote'? like there is over here?

Democratic norms? We've got unelected bishops sat in the House of Lords.

It’s much more than that. It’s not just encouraging people to vote, but telling them explicitly who to vote for. If you type in your postcode, it gives you the specific MP to vote for based purely on whether they voted for a ceasefire or not.

I’d also be against any other religion dictating to their followers which candidate they should be voting for.

People voting how they wish is not a threat to democracy. They ate exercising their democratic right.

Those who intimidate and threaten politicians and voters are breaking the law and must be made to pay for that. There's a huge difference between the two.

CAIR?

Muslims not voting: "omg, look at them not accepting democracy, not integrating!"

Muslims vote: "omg, look at them voting! Sectarian voting! It's a threat!"

We can't effing do anything right can we.

Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in an attempt to overturn an election.

Half of Mumsnet seemed to be voting purely on trans rights issues or whether or not private education would cost them a little more.

I'm Jewish and I have no problem with this. If people wanted to vote on the Gaza issue they are entitled to do so.

Also I don't like this attitude I'm seeing in some places (not implying it was @Worrydon 's intent though, I don't believe it was) that Muslims are some sort of political threat in this country. Many people, especially right wingers in the US (and we've seen this from DH's cousins there) are trying to push a divisive line that Muslims are this massive political force in the UK and this has to be bad for Jews, which I find deeply disingenuous.

There's a reason why we have separation of Church and State. Religion has no place in politics.

They didn't March them down to the polling office or send them threatening notes....

Whilst I sort of understand your sentiments on election swaying so to speak, it happens on many none religious websites also, people vote for a candidate they normally wouldn't vote for to gain the result they want.

I don't think it's unreasonable to vote for a candidate that wants a ceasefire either, I'd be more inclined to vote for anyone who voted for one and I'm not religious.

We don't in the UK.

Yes but we don’t have actual priests that normal people visit x number of times a week legally telling them how to actually vote. It is leveraging a personal spiritual relationship between priest and congregation for political means and allowing religious authorities to press gang captive audiences into voting the “correct” way. It’s sinister that anyone thinks that should be removed.

Only the indigenously British should be allowed to vote

I completely agree! I've seen many conversations between Jewish and Muslim people on here and they've always been extremely supportive of each other and share similar issues regarding discrimination.

It's being used to bait the population nothing more.