Labour suffered a series of shock losses at the hands of independent candidates representing pro-Gaza interests in key seats.
While overnight results consistently showed Labour heading towards a landslide victory – the party suffered some shock results, losing Shadow Cabinet member Jonathan Ashworth to a pro-Gaza independent, with shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting winning with a margin of just 500 votes.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was re-elected to his Islington North seat but this time as an independent. He has campaigned for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Here are all the independent candidates who have beaten Labour after a campaign that has seen them supporting Gaza as Israel’s war on Hamas continues into its tenth month.
Jeremy Corbyn
Jeremy Corbyn has been re-elected in Islington North as an independent, a constituency he has held since 1983.
He previously ran as a Labour candidate but was blocked from standing in March 2023 by Sir Keir Starmer. He announced shortly after the election was called that he would stand as an independent, prompting his expulsion from the party.
In October 2020, Mr Corbyn was suspended from the party and lost the whip after describing antisemitism in Labour as “dramatically overstated for political reasons” in response to a critical report from the equality watchdog.
The former leader of the opposition beat the Labour candidate, local councillor Praful Nargund, winning 24,120 votes compared to Nargund’s 16,873.
Upon his victory, Mr Corbyn said: “Our campaign was a positive one, it did not get into the gutter of politics. Ours was a positive campaign trying to bring hope to people.
“Our campaign was utterly determined to bring a degree of unity to it. This result is a resounding message from the people of Islington North that they want something better.
“I owe my life and my learning and my abilities entirely to the people of Islington North. This victory is dedicated entirely to them.”
Mr Corbyn has historically supported Palestinian rights and repeatedly called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Earlier this year, he wrote in The Guardian calling for peace: “For months, millions of us have demonstrated for a ceasefire in Gaza to stop the loss of life, end the perpetual cycle of violence and prevent a wider escalation.
“We have been ignored, maligned and demonised.”
Shockat Adam
Labour Shadow Cabinet member Jonathan Ashworth lost his seat to an independent candidate who focused his campaigning on Gaza.
Shockat Adam, the new MP for Leicester South, won the seat with 14,739 votes, compared to Mr Ashworth’s 13,760 – a margin of just 979 votes.
This result bucked the trend of the Labour landslide seen elsewhere, with Mr Ashworth ousted from the seat he has held since 2011, including a tenure as the shadow paymaster general.
During his campaign, Mr Adam described Leicester South as his “heart, home, and commitment”, serving the community via his optical practice and community work.
He has campaigned for the rights of Gaznas, writing on his website: “Gazans are a people with no army, no air force or a navy, facing one of the most sophisticated military machinery the world has ever seen”.
He added: “When it comes to voting in the next general election, we must ensure that those who turned their back on one of the greatest injustices in modern times are told loud and clear we have turned our backs on them.”
Adnan Hussain
Independent candidate Adnan Hussain has beaten Labour’s Kate Hollern in Blackburn.
He won the seat with 10,518 votes, while Hollern came in second 10,386 – meaning a majority of only 132 votes.
Mr Hussain, who is a lawyer, ran his campaign with Gaza as the focal point.
Launching the campaign last month, he said: “If you elect me as your next member of parliament I will listen to your concerns and I will speak where people have not spoken till now.
“I will speak where your voices need to be reached. I will speak where others have remained silent so far.
“I promise to be that that loud voice in defence of our community whenever the need arises.
“I will explore avenues to bring about unity.”
Iqbal Mohamed
Iqbal Mohammed, an independent, gained Dewsbury and Batley from the Labour candidate, Heather Iqbal.
He won 15,641 votes in comparison to Labour’s 8,707.
The new MP, with experience in business and technology management consultancy, said his main focus will be fighting for a ceasefire in Gaza – among other aims.
He wrote: “My initial focus will include fighting for a ceasefire and two-state peace agreement in Gaza, tackling the cost of living crisis, fighting to save the NHS and Dewsbury Hospital, funding for all essential services, town regeneration, safer streets and environmental and consumer safety and protection.”
Near wins
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting narrowly held his seat by just over 500 votes, only just beating a pro-Gaza independent candidate.
Mr Streeting won 33.4 per cent of the vote in Ilford North while independent candidate Leanne Mohamad received 32.2 per cent of the vote.
Veteran Tory MP and former party leader Iain Duncan Smith held onto his seat in Chingford and Woodford Green despite an expected challenge from Labour.
The opposition vote was split, with just 79 votes between Labour’s Shama Tatler and independent candidate Faiza Shaheen who was deselected by Labour after the election was called.
Ms Shaheen, on the left of the party, was deselected after liking a series of posts on X, formerly Twitter, that allegedly downplayed antisemitism allegations.
In Birmingham Yardley, Labour’s Jess Phillips narrowly managed to hold onto her seat, scraping 11,275 votes compared to the 10,582 won by Workers Party candidate Jody McIntyre. Speaking to ITV after the count, she said “no progress has been made for the people of Palestine in this election”.
The Labour MP was heckled during the count at Birmingham Yardley by pro-Palestine protesters, despite having previously voted for a ceasefire.
Election 2024
The general election campaign has finished and polling day has seen the Labour Party romp to an impressive win over Rishi Sunak‘s Tories.
Sir Keir Starmer and other party leaders have battled to win votes over six weeks, and i‘s election live blog covered every result as it happened. Tory big beasts from Penny Mordaunt to Grant Shapps saw big losses, while Jeremy Corbyn secured the win in Islington North.
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK also outdid expectations with four MPs elected.
But what happens next as Labour win? Follow the i‘s coverage of Starmer’s next moves as the new Prime Minister.
'President Musk' is flexing his muscles and revealing how weak Trump is