A pro-Palestine MP who won his seat by just 132 votes argued there was “no difference” between the Israeli Government and terror group Isis, unearthed footage has revealed.
Adnan Hussain, who defeated Labour’s Kate Hollern to become Blackburn’s independent MP, entered the House of Commons after campaigning against Sir Keir Starmer’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
Speaking at a rally in Hyde Park in 2014, Hussain said: “Isis are terrorists and so are the Israeli Government – there is no difference between them.
“Any man, woman that takes away innocent lives is a terrorist.
“There is no doubt about it. He could be from America, he could be from Israel, or he could be the bloody Isis – there is no difference”.
Hussain’s comments came after Israel launched its offensive in Gaza in July 2014.
Israel mounted its offensive after three Israeli teenagers were kidnapped and murdered in the West Bank.
Isis were simultaneously on the rise in north-west Iraq and eastern Syria.
Asked about his comments, Hussain told The Telegraph: “I hold strongly to my position that acts of violence inflicted upon a civilian population for political motivations should be classed as terrorism, be such acts carried out by an individual, a political body/entity or even a state.
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An image of an Isis fighter flying an Isis flag
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“Clearly, in the context of this speech, I expressed my belief that the offensive being carried out by the state of Israel upon an unarmed and besieged population, which resulted in over 2,000 deaths, was an act of terror.
“To understand my reference made to Isis here, the speech must be contextualised within the political makeup of the time.
“Isis would have naturally come to mind as an example of terror, simply because it was the most prominent terrorist body at the time.”
He added: “Hindsight and the maturing of 10 years, has resulted in my understanding that I would now articulate and word certain aspects of what I said 10 years ago a lot differently, in a bid not to allow the space for nuance to arise.”
Hussain’s victory in Blackburn ended Labour’s 79-year grip on the Lancashire town.
Benjamin Netanyahu
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Blackburn is a city with a much higher number of Muslim voters.
Around 35 per cent of residents identified as Muslim, with eight out of 17 wards having a Muslim majority.
Hussain overturned Labour’s whopping 18,000-vote majority.
The solicitor-turned-MP received 10,518 votes, with Labour trailing in second on 10,386.
The Workers Party ended up in third on 7,105, with Reform UK and the Conservative Party receiving 4,844 and 3,474 respectively.
Labour figures have hit out at “intimidation” tactics adopted by pro-Palestinian campaigners during the 2024 General Election campaign.
Four MPs lost to pro-Gaza candidates, with former Shadow Work & Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth missing out by 979 votes.
Hussain’s victory in Blackburn ended Labour’s 79-year grip on the Lancashire town
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Birmingham Perry Barr, Dewsbury & Batley and Islington North were also lost to pro-Palestine independent candidates.
Jeremy Corbyn was the biggest figure to win at the expense of Labour.
However, Ashworth spoke out against the tactics adopted during the campaign.
Jess Phillips, who held off George Galloway’s Workers Party by fewer than 700 votes, also claimed it had been “the worst election I have ever stood in” as she was heckled at the count.
Shabana Mahmood added: “It is never acceptable to intimidate and threaten.”
Ashworth separately urged his Leicester South successor Shockat Adam to explain his dealings with a supporter who was charged with terror offences.