A Member of British Parliament has released a campaign ad in Urdu, the national language of Pakistan, sparking controversy as many question the rapidly changing demographics of the United Kingdom. Naz Shah, a Labour Party MP known for her controversial social media activity, previously sparked outrage by liking and retweeting a parody account where the tweet suggested grooming gang victims should “shut their mouths for the good of diversity.”
Released on May 22, the broadcast, posted to X (formerly Twitter), has garnered over 1.6 million views, significantly outperforming her English-language campaign video, which received only 23,000 views by comparison.
In the video, Shah announces: “A summer election is set for July 4th! I will be standing to be re-elected as the parliamentary candidate for Bradford West. Support my campaign to help me continue to be a strong and outspoken voice for Bradford West.”
This move has drawn criticism, with some arguing that it underscores immigration as a contentious issue in UK elections. Critics claim that campaigning in Urdu alienates non-Urdu-speaking constituents and highlights both divisions within the community and concerns about the replacement of the native British voting base.
The constituency of Bradford West has faced a staggering demographic change over the years, with the area now having a significant Pakistani population. According to the Office of the Chief Executive, a 61% of the population is classified as “Asian” or “Asian British,” and 58.7% are Muslim.
This isn’t the first instance of an MP campaigning in Urdu. Earlier this year, during a by-election in Rochdale, Labour MP Azhar Ali received an endorsement in Urdu from Manchester Gorton’s MP, Afzal Khan.
Nigel Farage was recently under fire by the mainstream media after he expressed concerns about sectarian politics that is growing within the UK as a new movement has emerged called The Muslim Vote.
According to the group’s website: “Our goal is simple This election signals a shift – Muslim issues at the forefront. We will no longer tolerate being taken for granted. We are a powerful, united force of 4 million acting in unison. We are focused on seats where the Muslim vote can influence the outcome. We are here for the long term. In 2024, we will lay the foundations for our community’s political future.”
Connor Tomlinson, host of Tomlinson Talks on The Lotus Eaters, gave his thoughts on Shah’s Urdu campaign, stating: “It is notable that Nigel Farage was accused of racism when raising concerns about ethno-religious sectarianism in politics last week, because this is exactly what Naz Shah has engaged in here.”
Continuing, Tomlinson noted that Shah “felt the need to deliver a statement in Urdu” precisely because she was aware that there is a Pakistani Muslim diaspora in Bradford who have not assimilated or bothered to learn English.
“The host population – unlike various aggrieved racial and religious minority groups, do not vote along ethnic lines for exclusively white candidates. Christians have no formal party; nor do any of the main parties take Christian positions on matters like abortion or assisted dying. So when the English, with an established church, do not vote along ethnic and religious lines, but minority groups do, it is understandable that there is discomfort there,” he explains.
“If an MP plays into that sectarianism by delivering campaign announcements in foreign languages, or, as Angela Rayner promised Muslim constituents, campaigns on behalf of the interests of foreign nations, then they should be deselected and barred from Parliament.”
The rise of sectarian politics in the UK has been a topic of concern, and as the July 4 election approaches, the strategy of leveraging linguistic and cultural connections to engage with constituents will continue to be a point of debate.
