Gaza ripples felt in UK elections as British-Pakistanis support Green Party

With just a few days to go until the United Kingdom election, a recent survey has shared insights into the voting trends and inclinations of the nation's ethnic minorities, particularly South Asian and Pakistani communities.

According to the YouGov poll, a significant portion of Pakistani voters are leaning in favour of the Green Party due to the Labour Party's and Keir Starmer’s stance on the Gaza issue. 

Yet the Labour Party leads amongst other parties, with 53% of minorities intending to vote for them.

Gaza effect on UK elections

The Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities are predominantly Muslim, and the increased support for the Greens is due to Starmer’s stance on the Gaza conflict. About 41% of the voters from these communities have regarded the Gaza conflict as a key factor in deciding their vote.

According to the poll, only 28% of Pakistani and Bangladeshi voters have a favourable vote for Starmer, while 78% believe that the labour leader has handled the Gaza issue very badly.

Cost of living, a key factor

In addition to the Gaza issue being a key factor in their voting decision for them, other factors include the cost of living, the National Health Service (NHS), and the state of the economy.

Ethnic minority groups have been badly affected by the rise in the cost of living as compared to the wider public. Reports suggest that the rise has forced two-thirds (66%) of the group to make major cuts to their usual spending, while 62% anticipate having to make cuts in the near future.

Furthermore, the majority of people have experienced difficulty paying for energy bills (59%) and food (53%) in the last three months.