Jess Phillips and Shabana Mahmood talk about election intimidation

Two re-elected deputies conveyed in sober victory speeches the intimidation and harassment they faced during the general election campaign.

Jess Phillips spoke of party workers being filmed in the street making regular calls to the police, while Shabana Mahmood said masked men disrupted a community meeting, “frightening” people in attendance.

Labour’s Ms Phillips, who was heckled during her speech, said such experiences meant the election was the worst she had attended, with fellow Labor politician Ms Mahmood calling the actions an “attack on democracy itself”.

There was a notable police presence during the counts in Birmingham, where both women were candidates, with the West Midlands force confirming it was investigating several complaints made ahead of polling day.

While the two held their seats in the city, contributing to their party’s landslide national victory, each saw their majorities shrink, with Ms Phillips’ lead reduced to 689 votes.

Both MPs faced competition in their constituencies from candidates campaigning on pro-Gaza tickets.

After the result was called, amid shouts and boos from onlookers, including chants of ‘shame on you’ and ‘free Palestine’, Ms Phillips said: ‘I will continue with my speech. I understand that a strong woman holds your face. is met with such reluctance”.

She then recounted how, during the campaign, a community activist went out to do a canvass with her, but she was filmed by people in the street and had her car tires slashed.

“A single young woman delivering leaflets was filmed and shouted at by a much older man on the street,” she said.

Ms Phillips also told the crowd she was due to be joined by the family of murdered MP Jo Cox on Thursday who wanted to campaign with her.

“I could not have allowed them to see what was aggressive and violent in our democracy,” she said.

She went on to say that the country is “in desperate need and our politics (is) in even greater need of cleaning up and I thank everyone in this room for making a very good show of proving that to me.”

She thanked West Midlands Police for receiving “constant” phone calls from her.

Shabana Mahmood used her speech to convey how she, her family and supporters were harassed during the election campaign, adding that some people sought to “deny” her Muslim faith.

As police officers lined the stage as she spoke overnight, Ms Mahmood said physical threats had been reported to police, who she thanked for going “above and beyond to ensure a safe and secure election “.

She stated: “A lot will be written about this campaign and there should be. This was a campaign that was marred by harassment and intimidation.”

She called the behavior an “attack on democracy itself” and said it was “never acceptable to intimidate and threaten” people.

Baroness Shaista Gohir, who runs the national charity Muslim Women’s Network UK, told BBC Radio WM: “I was very concerned to see what was happening to women candidates in areas where you have a significant Muslim electorate.

“Men suffered abuse as well, but it was much higher for women – they are seen as easy targets, they have been intimidated, harassed and that is really worrying.

“It’s close to trying to drive them out of politics, it also sends a message to women not to enter politics.”

Mrs Gohir, who is from Birmingham, said: “When the dust settles we need to learn the lessons from it and prevent it from happening again.”

This point was echoed by Ms Mahmood, who said: “British politics need to wake up soon to what has happened in this election.

“And let me make this clear, because this matters deeply to me and my family: It is never acceptable to deny anyone their faith; classify them as infidels.

“I know what a Muslim looks like, a Muslim looks like me. I know what Muslim values ​​are and they are also British values ​​- decency, respect, kindness.”

A West Midlands Police spokesman said a number of police officers were stationed at polling stations in Birmingham on Thursday to “provide reassurance and ensure public safety”.

They said: “Our officers are aware of a number of incidents leading up to the election where people have reported criminal damage and harassment and we are carrying out inquiries to identify those responsible.”

By Rob Mayor, West Midlands Political Editor

None of the major party leaders visited Birmingham during the election campaign – perhaps overnight we found out why.

Tensions never boiled far from the surface at the count and threatened to spill over as the results were announced.

There was a considerable police presence as a number of Labor MPs were loudly shaken during their victory speeches.

Election statements are loud stuff, but this was different. At one point, the returning officer threatened to remove people from the venue.

Labor winners pledged to unite their communities and regain trust on the Gaza issue. That will take some serious work.