The political movement established by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and MP Zarah Sultana has secured its inaugural London councillor following a significant defection from the Brent Labour group. Councillor Ihtesham Afzal, representing Wembley Hill, has officially joined Your Party, declaring that Labour has fundamentally abandoned the core principles that originally defined the party.
Seventh Defection from Brent Labour in Recent Months
Councillor Afzal becomes the seventh Brent Labour representative to leave the party over the past several months, joining a growing list of defectors. This group includes Mary Mitchell, Harbi Farah, Iman Ahmadi Moghaddam, Tony Ethapemi, and Erica Gbajumo, who all moved to The Green Party, alongside Rajan-Seelan who switched to the Conservatives. Additionally, former Deputy Mayor Councillor Kathleen Fraser recently resigned from Labour and now serves as an Independent councillor.
Most departing councillors have publicly criticized Labour's current leadership and questioned the ethical foundations of the party's administration upon their exit. Councillor Afzal specifically highlighted profound concerns regarding the government's foreign policy decisions and immigration approach as primary motivations for his departure.
Foreign Policy and Immigration Criticisms
In an interview with the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Councillor Afzal stated: "I resigned because the Labour party has betrayed the principles upon which it was founded; the principles of justice, equality, and socialism. It has betrayed the very people it was created to fight for—the poor, the working class, the marginalized, and the oppressed. They are now not only echoing the rhetoric of the far right but are in power enacting those policies."
Regarding foreign policy, Councillor Afzal condemned what he described as Labour's "complicity in the genocide in Gaza" through supplying components for Israel's F-35 fighter jets, alongside inaction concerning "the ethnic cleansing in Lebanon." He also addressed the ongoing conflict involving Iran, asserting that the UK is "directly involved" by permitting the United States to utilize British military bases for strikes, suggesting the country has "again become America's poodle."
The UK government has authorized the US to use British bases for targeting Iranian sites near the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global energy shipping lane. Prime Minister Keir Starmer initially restricted this to defensive operations protecting British interests, but later expanded approval to assist vessels in the oil channel under "collective self-defense" principles.
Immigration and Economic Policy Disputes
Councillor Afzal further criticized the government's immigration and economic strategies, accusing Labour of "targeting and demonizing immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers" while "balancing its books on the backs of the most vulnerable." He explained his political motivation: "I got involved in politics because, coming from a working-class background as the son of immigrants, growing up in social housing and temporary accommodation, and working minimum-wage jobs on zero-hour contracts, I see it as my duty to help people."
The government is currently planning a major overhaul of the immigration system, including doubling the time required for migrants to gain indefinite leave to remain from five to ten years, implementing tighter family reunion rules, and restricting most refugees to temporary stays. A Home Office spokesman defended these measures, stating: "The privilege of living here forever should be earned, not automatic. We must be honest about the scale and impact of hundreds of thousands of low-skilled migrants getting settlement rights."
Political Background and Local Elections Context
Last year, Councillor Afzal led a campaign to twin Brent Council with Nablus, a city in Palestine, describing the initiative as affirming "our commitment to solidarity, shared values, and unity across borders." This defection occurs just weeks before May's local elections, where Brent residents will vote for representatives for the next four-year term. However, Councillor Afzal will not be running for re-election—a decision he indicated was made over a year ago—meaning Your Party's first London councillor may hold the position only briefly.
Both the London Labour Group and Your Party were approached for comment but did not respond prior to publication. This development underscores ongoing tensions within Labour and highlights the emerging influence of alternative political movements in London's local governance landscape.
