Palestine Activist to Run for Council from Prison Cell in May Elections
In a remarkable political development, a prisoner awaiting trial for alleged offences linked to Palestine Action will stand as a candidate in the upcoming local council elections this May. Amu Gib, who has been held at HMP Bronzefield since their arrest last July, will represent the Islington Community Independents in the Finsbury Park ward, where they grew up.
Legal Eligibility and Arrest Details
Amu Gib was arrested along with five other protesters for allegedly breaking into Britain's largest air force base, causing millions of pounds in damage. According to the Prisoners for Palestine website, the base is involved in surveillance missions over Gaza, providing intelligence to the Israeli army. Despite being remanded in prison until at least next year for trial, election rules have been verified, confirming that since Amu has not been convicted, there is no legal barrier to their candidacy.
They were unanimously selected by Islington Community Independent members at a recent annual general meeting, highlighting strong support within the party.
Background and Activism
Amu, a former community support worker, bicycle mechanic, and NHS patient transport driver, attended City and Islington College in Angel. While in prison, they participated in a 49-day hunger strike, calling for the government to halt weapons supplies to Israel and de-proscribe Palestine Action, which was designated as a "terror group" by then Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last summer. This designation is currently being challenged in a High Court case.
David Renton, an ICI member and Amu's election agent, emphasized the symbolic significance of their candidacy. "If Amu were elected, it would send an extraordinary message – about what we are as a borough, as a place. That people can have the generosity to say: 'There is that person in prison, they've done some very brave and dangerous things and I identify with them. I want them to be the one speaking up for me in the council chamber,'" he said.
Broader Political Agenda
While Amu is widely known for their pro-Palestine activism, Mr. Renton added that their platform extends beyond this issue. "It's actually about changing things in Islington. This is someone who is going to fight on behalf of the people they represent. Amu is for the tenants, for the residents," he explained.
Amu is currently scheduled to remain in prison until a trial date in January 2027, but the recent High Court ruling that the proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful could lead to an earlier release on bail. "Our hope is that Amu is out in a few weeks' time, knocking on doors like other candidates," Mr. Renton stated.
Statement from Prison
In a statement recorded from HMP Bronzefield, Amu expressed strong views on government policies. "We have watched the genocide that the UK is complicit in, and benefits from, play out on our screens for two years. There are no words to describe the horror and loss in Palestine, and yet all there has been is talk. People who have acted have been slammed in jail, like an anxious hand trying to close over a burst pipe. Meanwhile billions go to the arms trade, as if Russia, not the climate crisis, were our greatest threat. Our homes, health, transport and education and communities suffer needlessly. So when I speak out against the government, it is personal. But not because I will have been remanded for a year-and-a-half before trial. It is because I will not allow this country to blame migrants while we bomb democracy into their homelands and steal their resources."
This candidacy underscores the intersection of activism, legal rights, and local politics, setting the stage for a highly contested election in Islington this spring.
