Newham councilor abruptly quits Labor for Greens after Keir Starmer’s Bangladesh comments

A Newham councilor has resigned from the Labor Party and joined the Greens, citing his former party’s stance on Palestine and Keir Starmer’s comments on illegal migrants and Bangladesh as part of his reasons for leaving. Cllr Areeq Chowdhury announced on Monday (July 1) that he is leaving the party after 13 years as a member and will serve out the remainder of his term as a Green councillor.

He has been a councilor for the Canning Town North ward since 2022. In a statement posted on X, Cllr Chowdhury said his exit was prompted by Labour’s position and response to Palestine, Mr Starmer’s recent comments on Bangladesh and said the Party The Greens aligned more with his political beliefs.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) has contacted the Labor Party for comment. On Palestine, Cllr Chowdhury said: “Eventual Labor support for a ceasefire has been long overdue and after more than 10,000 Palestinian children have been killed. Additionally, I was disappointed by the defense of LBC’s comments regarding the power and water cuts in Gaza. I disagreed with and rejected the party’s messages regarding Palestine solidarity marches, many of which I participated in.”

READ MORE: Tower Hamlets councilor quits Labor and goes independent over Keir Starmer’s Bangladesh comment

He went on to say: “While (Labour) has historically been a home for anti-racism, I no longer feel that is the case and I think (Labour) needs to rebuild its credibility on this issue. There are numerous examples where I feel (Labour) has leaned towards racism, most recently with the comments about ‘sending back’ migrants to Bangladesh.’

Cllr Chowdhury said the language used was “reminiscent of the National Front” and did not align with his pro-migration views. During a debate hosted by The Sun, Mr Starmer was asked by an audience member how Labor would approach deporting illegal migrants.

In a video posted on social media, Starmer said: “At the moment, people coming from countries like Bangladesh are not being turned away because they are not being processed.” His comments received backlash and saw Cllr Sabina Akhtar resign from Labor and her role as deputy leader of the Tower Hamlets Labor Group.

Starmer said it was not his intention to cause concern or offend British Bangladeshis, while Labor described the clip as “disinformation”. Cllr Chowdhury will serve the remainder of his term, which runs until May 2026, as a Green councillor. In his first two years as a local councillor, the council unanimously backed a motion calling for live facial recognition technology to be banned in Newham until further tests are carried out and anti-discrimination safeguards are put in place.

He also spoke out against pensioners who were slapped with £150 fines from the council after feeding the birds in one of the borough’s parks. Cllr Nate Higgins, leader of Newham Green Group, said he was delighted with Cllr Chowdhury’s move to the Greens.

He said: “I have worked closely with (Cllr Chowdhury) on council committees and have seen his great work representing the residents of his ward at the full council. We know (he) is a compassionate councilor who genuinely cares about the people he represents and the issues he campaigns for.”

Cllr Higgins said “the door is always open” to other Labor councilors considering defecting to the Greens. He added: “From Palestine to climate, from austerity to democracy – the Green Party is standing up for those who need it most, where Labor is not.

“I know he would feel much more at home in the Green Party. We are growing fast and the Green Party offers a progressive, honest alternative and a chance to represent residents with integrity.” Labour-led Newham Council now has seven opposition councillors, made up of three Green councilors and four independent councillors.

Want more from MyLondon? Sign up to our daily newsletters for the latest and greatest from London here.