A UK Green Party parliamentary candidate, Sharmen Rahman, was barred from standing for the Labour Party after liking tweets critical of media coverage on a report on Labour and racism. Despite being a Labour councillor and parliamentary candidate hopeful for Loughborough, Rahman was blocked from the longlist due to her online activity, as highlighted in a due diligence document by the East Midlands Labour Party. The panel questioned her about a tweet by journalist Aaron Bastani, which they deemed to contain antisemitic tropes. Rahman strongly denies this accusation, stating the importance of discussing the Forde report on racism in Labour.
She also faced criticism for liking tweets critical of Labour leader Keir Starmer’s conference speech and ones questioning the Jewish Labour Movement’s affiliation with an Israel advocacy group. Rahman’s ordeal mirrors that of Faiza Shaheen, who was also deselected for her social media activity. The incidents raise concerns about Labour’s approach to diverse voices and issues.
Rahman’s experience sheds light on the challenges faced by minority voices within mainstream political parties and the need for a more inclusive and transparent selection process.