Why I Gave Up on Parliament

When I was 17, I applied to stand in a local election for the Conservative Party. Yes, the Conservative Party. I will one day explain in depth my political past: most likely in our upcoming podcast. My application was successful and the results of that election can be found here. Back then, I passionately wanted to build a political career, one that would take me to the House of Commons as a Member of Parliament. I am now 21 and I have, for the most part, lost interest in that idea. Not because I thought myself incapable of attaining that objective, I believe I do have the ability, but because of a very simple reason: I refuse to ransom my soul for a career. I imagine that I was not the first Muslim who wanted to be an MP at a relatively young age and I certainly won't be the last. Therefore, this article is an analysis of why I believe, for the most part, Muslims should avoid entering elected politics.

Rightstance has never, and will never, be a 'fatwa-giving' platform because that is outside the scope of objective (and indeed qualifications) of this website. This article merely highlights the dangers and inhibitions of becoming a politician (an elected one at least) as a Muslim. If you believe it is not permissible in the first place to stand for elections then there is no debate to be had, but this article may be worth reading anyway for perspective.

When a Muslim joins a political party, they must understand that all parties have their set ideology and ambitions which you must conform to. Some may justify this to themselves and say that not all policies and goals are in contradiction with the spirit of Islam. Those on the left will say that Islam is compassionate and the Labour Party promotes compassionate policies. Those on the right will say that Islam encourages free markets, low tax, and entrepreneurship and that is embodied within the Conservative Party (I know, because I was such a person). This justification, sadly, is nothing more than a dangerous self-soothing technique. Once you snap out of this thinking, if you ever do, it becomes abundantly clear that you can never function fully as a Muslim and as a member of a political party. You may be sincere, but you will be in a constant tug-of-war with your conscience. Yes, in the Labour Party you can advocate more freely for more state services (such as free school meals), but what happens when the party issues a three-line whip (when the leadership of the party makes voting a certain way mandatory under threat of consequence) on a motion such as recognising trans-women as 'real' women? Are you going to vote in favour? If yes, you've sold out. If no, your career is down the drain. Equally, as a Conservative, yes, you may be able to promote economically liberal policies or even have the ability to be more socially conservative. But what happens when you are issued a three-line whip on a motion to support the government invading a Muslim country? You'd be more than a sell-out, you'd have the blood of Muslims on your hands. If you vote no, you equally will have no career afterwards. In both cases, voting against would be admirable for the fact you stuck to your morals, but would you not end up wishing you never embarked on this career in the first place?

Of course, the Labour and Conservative parties are not the only two parties that exist in the UK. In fact, you can choose to run independently. I see this path as neither inherently problematic or inherently advantageous for a Muslim. It is a 'make with it what you can' situation. Having nobody to answer to is a benefit since you can vote in any way you wish with no repercussion. Enjoying parliamentary privilege (immunity from being sued for statements made within Parliament) also means you can speak as plainly as you wish about topics. I believe that while symbolically the handful of independent Muslim candidates elected into Parliament is a positive thing, it is also fruitless. When you realise that independents practically have no influence over government policies, cannot realistically pass through legislation on their own, and their votes are mostly inconsequential, the reality that they are ineffectual dawns over you. At that point, what can you do within Parliament that you could not do otherwise?

To move away from the theoretical challenges, let's look at real-life examples of existing Muslim politicians. Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, is a man who does not hesitate to speak about his Muslim identity. Yet he has made deeply troubling remarks in the past such as discouraging wearing the niqab, stating when people are in public " you should be able to see their faces". Humza Yousaf, former First Minister of Scotland, was a close LGBTQIA (etc) ally during his stint in office - according to him, gay sex and gay marriage are not wrong or sinful. Sajid Javid completely strayed from the path of Islam saying he no longer practices any religion and enjoys a glass of wine on occasion. Zarah Sultana is another proud ally of the LGBTQIA (etc) movement. All of the aforementioned individuals come from different parties across the spectrum and hold elected roles outside of just Member of Parliament. Yes, you may be 'different', but do you think that none of these individuals had the same thought? Perhaps the saying 'the road to hell is paved with good intentions' may ring true here.

In conclusion, yes, there is some scope for Muslims to enter elected politics. While I would never again consider entering party politics, I myself am not completely closed off to the route of independent politics in the future. But the circumstances would have to be truly exceptional. If you are considering the path of party politics, you can now decide if there is any fruit to that particular endeavour. Many Muslims before you thought they could be the exception. Few are. Don’t trade your akhirah for a seat at someone else’s table. Ask yourself honestly: will I fear Allah still when the party whip comes down? Desire to serve your community doesn’t require seats in Parliament. Create and then build up institutions, lead grassroots initiatives, and support policy reform from the outside, but never surrender your values on the inside.