Ex-Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire: Party’s ‘lack of a strong narrative’ on Gaza ‘had consequences’

[IwantToRetire]

As the Green Party quadrupled its quota of MPs in last week’s general election, Shadow Culture Secretary Thangam Debbonaire was one of the casualties.

She was turfed out from the Bristol constituency she’d held for nearly decade.

In her first interview since her defeat, she has spoken exclusively to Cathy Newman about how she thinks Keir Starmer’s position on the Gaza conflict led to her losing.

And she comes clean on whether the new Prime Minister has reached out to her since last Thursday’s vote.

https://www.channel4.com/news/ex-labour-mp-thangam-debbonaire-partys-lack-of-a-strong-narrative-on-gaza-had-consequences

I know there are other threads about Bristol Central but in a rush, and couldn't think which one to add this to.

When announced that she was going to talk about being "turfed" out I thought is there a clever play on words and they actually mean "terfed" out?

Gaza had a huge impact. We saw it in the local elections too

Gaza had an impact in a tiny number of seats. I don't think this is true across the board tbh.

We went from Tory to Labour, so it does look like it made any difference down my way.

Oops that should read doesn't

I think she lost because it was so clear Labour would win, she wasn’t needed for a majority. I think there are a lot of people around the country who would like to vote Green but see it as a wasted vote. It was clear it wasn’t going to be wasted there.

In this particular case, I would say that Labour's climbdown on the proposed Green New Deal was more likely to have led to this.

I think (obviously!) it was a number of issues, but in more urban areas I dont think the Green got votes for being greener, but because they have a clearer position on Gaza.

Dont forget Starmer himself lost nearly 8,000 votes to a pro Palestinian candidate.

And it isn't only TD who thinks this https://www.theguardian.com/politics/article/2024/jul/05/labour-loses-three-seats-to-pro-palestinian-candidates

And after Starmer's horrendous statement about starvation being a legitimate weapon in war, he has not appointed an Attorney General who has been prominent in challenging UK Government https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/starmer-appoints-lawyer-who-opposed-goves-anti-bds-bill-as-attorney-general/

I think many people support green issues but dont see the Green Party as a serious political option (unless you live in Brighton or Bristol!).