Tories instigating 'culture wars', Labour will deliver on pledges: Reynolds
Shadow business secretary says party will ‘punch through’ voter cynicism
By Sarwar AlamJun 06, 2024
THE Labour MP and shadow secretary of state for business and trade, Jonathan Reynolds, has accused the Conservative party of instigating “culture wars” to deflect from their failings as he insisted his party will deliver on its pledges.
Ahead of the general election on July 4, Reynolds believes voters will choose Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer over Tory prime minister Rishi Sunak as key issues such as the cost-of-living crisis, the economy, the NHS, and immigration have all “got worse” under Tory rule.
“It’s wrong to give people hope by promising things you can’t deliver. Sometimes you hear big things from politicians; well, if you can’t deliver them, they’re not big things – they’re just words,” Reynolds told Eastern Eye in an interview.
“What Labour is offering on housing, employment rights, immediate improvements to the NHS, more money for state schools, change in taxation and private schools – they’re all deliverable things.”
Sunak on Monday (3) denied stoking a culture war with his pledge to overhaul equality laws to make clear sex means “biological sex” rather than gender (see related story on page 13).
Reynolds told Eastern Eye, “The Conservative government is trying to find excuses or trying to divert away from the fact that people find themselves in really difficult circumstances.
“This culture war stuff, they’re trying to find division because they can’t run on their core record, because people are not better off than they were 10-14 years ago.”
The Labour MP said he agreed with his colleague, Lisa Nandy MP, who told Eastern Eye last month that people had lost faith in the ability of politicians to “transform lives”.
“We have to punch through quite understandable cynicism that things can actually get better,” said Reynolds. “Punching through cynicism is about delivering things, not just having very big promises. If you can’t deliver, you’re only going to make that cynicism worse.”
He added: “We also have to look at how we conduct politics and how we communicate what it means to us – to represent diverse communities and how we want to focus on the core job rather than have this culture war, which is just a diversion from how things really are.”
Labour itself was last week caught up in allegations of racism after one of its members, Faiza Shaheen, claimed she had faced “a systematic campaign of racism, Islamophobia and bullying” from within the party.
Shaheen, an economist, was blocked from contesting the Chingford and Woodford Green seat in north London, held by Tory MP Iain Duncan Smith, after she liked social media posts that criticised Israel and its actions in Gaza.
Labour had a “problem with black and brown people,” Shaheen claimed.
Reynolds (C) with Sir Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves
“Any situation where a candidate is going to be replaced, it is really difficult. The Labour party does take that process really seriously, because frankly, in previous general elections, we did not do enough,” said Reynolds.
“I don’t know the individual case (of Shaheen), the circumstances, the evidence, so I wouldn’t like to make a comment on that because it’s got to be independent.
“In relation to the allegations of discrimination, Islamophobia, anything at all like that, I expect the Labour party to take them very seriously and investigate.
“I would ask people to look at the whole range of Labour candidates standing across all the constituencies and look at the incredible quality of those people and the incredible diversity of those people as a genuine reflection of Britain today.”
A poll by YouGov on Monday found that Labour is on course to win 422 seats, up 222 compared to the 2019 results, based on new constituency boundaries. This is the highest number of Labour seats on record, and a much bigger majority than anything else since the Second World War.
Labour has traditionally been the preferred party for minorities, especially Asians and black people. They secured 63 per cent of the votes from Asians in the 2019.
Reynolds rejected suggestions that Labour was taking the Asian vote “for granted” because they were so far ahead in the polls.
“First of all, we take no one for granted. There’s no complacency in the Labour side that’s related to being ahead in the polls,” said Reynolds.
“Let’s be frank, we usually lose general elections and we lost the last one really badly. If anyone thinks that anyone in the shadow cabinet or senior ranks in the party is going to take anyone for granted, that is just genuinely not the case.
“Second, I grew up in a non-diverse part of the UK, the Sunderland Durham area, but lived in (diverse areas) Greater Manchester and came to represent Stalybridge and Hyde.
“The relationship that someone like myself has with British people who have heritage and a history from southeast Asia is one that is just genuinely cherished in terms of what that has meant for me personally, not in political terms, just in personal terms – family links, personal friendships.
“What I learned about different communities for having not grown up in that diverse place is something – if I stopped being an MP tomorrow morning – it would have enriched my life in a genuinely important way to me,” Reynolds added.
In 2005 the war in Iraq meant some Muslim voters failed to turn out for Labour, but by 2010 they did return to the fold.
This time, there is some concern that the war between Israel and Hamas in Palestine could affect turnout and support.
When former Labour MP, George Galloway, won the Rochdale by-election, under Workers Party of Britain banner, by almost 6,000 votes at the end of February [29], he declared, “Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza.”
In the West Midlands mayoral race, the independent candidate, Akhmed Yakoob, ran on a pro-Palestine ticket. He took almost 70,000 votes – which some commentators believed would have gone to Labour because it refused to back a permanent ceasefire in the current conflict.
“Issues around the Middle East, in particular in Israel, Gaza have been really difficult issue and we saw that in the local elections,” Reynolds said.
“I know how strongly people feel about it, especially the younger generation of voters from every diverse community in the UK.
“Of course, they’re frustrated and of course, like everyone else, they’re appalled by the immense suffering on both sides.
“We look forward to articulating the Labour position in full during the general election which is not just for an immediate ceasefire and the freeing of hostages, of course, that in the end of the conflict as it stands right now, but also those ambitions for a two-state solution that genuinely goes forward based on the 1967 lines,” he added.
A 24-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison for rape, attempted rape and firearm offences following a Metropolitan Police investigation in west London.
Navroop Singh, of Mellow Lane East, Hayes, was convicted of five charges including rape and was sentenced on Friday, July 4 at Isleworth Crown Court. He must serve a minimum of 14 years.
Singh was found guilty of attempting to rape a woman in Southall Park, Ealing, on October 13, 2024. He was also convicted of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence.
He had earlier pleaded guilty to three further charges: possession of an imitation firearm with intent to commit an indictable offence, rape of a girl under 13, and assault of a girl under 13 by penetration. These charges relate to the rape of a child at Hayes End Park, Hillingdon, on October 23, 2024.
Police launched an investigation following the attempted rape report in Ealing. Officers gathered evidence including CCTV footage, witness accounts and forensic material. The woman had approached two off-duty officers near the park gates, who helped her reach a police station.
Detectives linked the Ealing incident to the rape of a child ten days later. They increased patrols, distributed leaflets in the area, and traced Singh to a location near his home. He was arrested on 27 October.
Acting Chief Superintendent Sean Lynch said: “I would like to commend the strength of the victim-survivors and their families and thank them for their unwavering bravery in reporting these awful incidents to us.
“Today’s conviction is testament to the officers’ thorough investigation, which has identified a violent sexual offender and undoubtedly prevented further harm.
“We are continuing to prioritise tackling violence against women and girls with our increased specialist teams. I hope that the community will find reassurance in our action to put this predator behind bars.”
Specialist officers supported both victims during the investigation and trial.
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'The 100 Club offers a powerful way to support and scale-up this work,' said the organisers.
LEPRA launched its first high-value giving network, the 100 Club, on June 26. The event was held at Quilon Restaurant in London and brought together philanthropists, business leaders and supporters of the charity’s work.
The event was hosted by Kalpesh Solanki, Group Managing Editor of Asian Media Group and President of the 100 Club. Remarks were delivered by Lepra’s Chair of Trustees Suzanne McCarthy and CEO Jimmy Innes, who spoke about the organisation’s ASPIRE project.
The project focuses on identifying undiagnosed cases of leprosy and lymphatic filariasis through community-based healthcare.
“The 100 Club offers a powerful way to support and scale-up this work,” said the organisers.
The event was hosted by Kalpesh Solanki, Group Managing Editor of Asian Media Group and President of the 100 Club.
The initiative features three membership levels and includes special recognition for founding members who join in 2025.
Lepra’s case-finding strategy involves door-to-door screening by trained teams, who identify symptoms and refer individuals for diagnosis and free multidrug therapy (MDT) treatment.
The charity said this approach has detected up to 300 per cent more leprosy cases compared to traditional methods, while using fewer human resources and reducing costs.
According to Lepra, the case detection programme costs £1 million annually and reached 61,215 people last year.
Currently, one in four families with children under five do not have access to local children’s centres or Family Hubs. (Representational image: iStock)
THE UK government has announced the nationwide rollout of Best Start Family Hubs across every local authority, aiming to support 500,000 more children by 2028.
The hubs are intended to offer easier access to family services and reduce pressure on parents.
Nationwide rollout and funding
Currently, one in four families with children under five do not have access to local children’s centres or Family Hubs.
The new initiative, backed by over £500 million, will create up to 1,000 hubs by the end of 2028, with all local authorities expected to have a hub by April 2026.
Areas including Warrington, Leeds, Reading, and Somerset are among those to gain access.
The hubs will provide services such as early language support, parenting sessions, housing advice, breastfeeding support, mental health services, and debt and welfare guidance.
A new digital platform will also be launched to connect parents with local hubs and the NHS App.
Quotes from ministers and organisations
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “It’s the driving mission of this government to break the link between a child’s background and what they go on to achieve – our new Best Start Family Hubs will put the first building blocks of better life chances in place for more children.”
Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: “By bringing together early support services and investing £500 million in children’s development, we’re taking preventative action that will improve lives and reduce pressure on the NHS – a key part of our 10 Year Health Plan.”
Anna Feuchtwang, CEO of the National Children’s Bureau, said: “The Prime Minister’s Plan for Change set out his ambition to improve outcomes in early childhood. Now the government has put its money where its mouth is and committed to rolling out Best Start Family Hubs in every local authority.”
TWO brothers accused of assaulting a man inside a Starbucks and later attacking police officers at Manchester Airport are standing trial, with the prosecution arguing they used "unlawful and extreme violence".
Mohammed Fahir Amaaz, 20, and his older brother Muhammad Amaad, 26, both from Rochdale, are said to have acted aggressively on July 23 last year while at the airport to pick up their mother, who had arrived on a flight from Qatar.
The pair deny the charges and claim they were defending themselves.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the trouble started when their mother, shortly after landing, pointed out a man she had an issue with - Abdulkareem Ismaeil - who was inside a Starbucks café with his family.
Prosecutor Paul Greaney KC said the younger brother, Amaaz, approached Ismaeil, shouted at him, then headbutted and punched him in front of his children.
Starbucks manager Cameron Cartledge said he heard loud voices and saw a man in a blue tracksuit—later identified as Amaaz—arguing closely with another man.
"Blue tracksuit man seemed quite aggressive. He got in the man’s face and shouted. Then he headbutted him, which made him stumble back," said Cartledge, adding that he called police immediately.
Another witness, barista Justine Pakalne, said the violence came from Amaaz, not Ismaeil. "Even if the other man stepped forward, he didn’t touch him. It was Amaaz who headbutted him," she said.
After the café incident, police officers found the brothers near the car park payment area of Terminal 2. According to Greaney, three officers - PCs Zachary Marsden, Ellie Cook, and Lydia Ward - approached to arrest Amaaz. When they did, he resisted and Amaad stepped in.
The court heard that both brothers attacked PC Marsden. Amaaz is also accused of assaulting PC Cook and breaking PC Ward’s nose during the struggle.
"The level of violence was very high," said Greaney. "Amaaz held PC Marsden by the neck, pulling him to the ground. PC Marsden managed to break free and later kicked Amaaz in the face to protect himself."
The prosecution acknowledged that the officer’s actions might appear “shocking” in isolation but argued they must be seen in the context of an armed officer facing a serious threat. "This happened in a busy airport where officers feared their weapons could be taken," Greaney said.
CCTV and police bodycam footage were shown to jurors, showing the incident unfold.
The defence claims both men acted in self-defence. However, Greaney dismissed that argument: "What the footage shows is not defensive behaviour, but offensive and violent conduct."
The court also heard that Ismaeil declined to give a police statement and is not part of the trial.
Both defendants deny all charges. The trial will continue on Monday (7).
THE seven-year prison sentence handed to a 15-year-old boy convicted of the manslaughter of 80-year-old Bhim Sen Kohli is to be reviewed under the UK’s Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme.
The boy, who cannot be named due to legal restrictions, was found guilty of carrying out an "unprovoked" attack on Kohli as he walked his dog in a park in Leicester, eastern England, in September last year.
The review follows a detailed assessment by Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC MP to determine whether the case met the threshold for referral.
“The Solicitor General, Lucy Rigby KC MP, was appalled by this violent, cowardly attack on an innocent man. She wishes to express her deepest sympathies to Bhim Kohli’s friends and family at this difficult time,” said a spokesperson for the Attorney General’s Office.
“After a detailed review of the case, the Solicitor General concluded the sentence of the 15-year-old could be referred to the Court of Appeal. The court will now determine whether the sentence should be increased.”
A 13-year-old girl, who was also convicted of manslaughter for her role in the attack, avoided a custodial sentence. She had filmed the assault while laughing and encouraging the boy, the court heard.
At a sentencing hearing on June 5 at Leicester Crown Court, Justice Mark Turner described the attack as “wicked”. He said he was legally bound to consider the defendants’ ages.
The boy, referred to as D1, was convicted of physically assaulting Kohli, while the girl, referred to as D2, received a three-year youth rehabilitation order with a six-month curfew.
Addressing the girl in court, Justice Turner said that a custodial sentence would likely cause “more harm than good”. It is understood that her sentence will not be referred for review as it did not meet the legal threshold.
During the trial, the court was told that Kohli had been racially abused and repeatedly punched and kicked. His daughter, Susan Kohli, found him lying on the ground after the attack.
“They chose to attack a defenceless pensioner and for that I cannot give them any of my sympathy,” she said after the sentencing.
Kelly Matthews, senior district crown prosecutor at the Crown Prosecution Service, called the incident “tragic” and said it had deeply affected the Leicester community and beyond.
“Kohli set out to walk his dog in his local park, as he did every day, but lost his life in what followed,” she said.