Labour MP Stella Creasy has been accused of hypocrisy for her public praise of a gender-segregated Muslim march, contrasting with her previous strong stances on women's rights and inclusivity.
Creasy, the MP for Walthamstow, shared a video on social media celebrating the Milad un Nabi March, highlighting young women in hijabs and niqabs as "the future optometrists, lawyers, accountants, surgeons and leaders of our community and country." She added that "Everyone is welcome so come next year and meet them to find out what this event is as they are fantastic!"
However, it emerged that the main body of the march was a male-only event, with the women participating in a separate parade. When questioned about this segregation, Creasy confirmed that the women had been separated from the main march.
This stance has drawn criticism given Creasy's past activism. She was a vocal opponent of the Garrick Club's male-only status in 2022, arguing that such exclusivity was "out of touch with the modern world." Creasy also previously stated her belief that some women were born with penises and advocated against policing who uses public restrooms, expressing a view that women and trans-women should have equal access to spaces.
The author of the report suggests Creasy's actions may be politically motivated, citing the significant Muslim population in her Walthamstow constituency, which he posits could influence her electoral majority. The report also draws parallels with Jess Phillips, another Labour MP, who faced criticism for blocking an inquiry into issues concerning predominantly Muslim rape gangs, an action also linked to her constituency's demographics.
These incidents are framed within a broader critique of the Labour Party's recent policy decisions, including the government's announcement of sanctions on what it termed "illegal settlements" in the West Bank. This move is interpreted as an attempt to alleviate pressure on Labour MPs facing challenges from pro-Palestinian groups and to align with the demographics of certain constituencies, rather than a primary focus on foreign policy.
The article contrasts this approach with the stated priorities of the new Prime Minister, who pledged that new policies would pass the "Makerfield test" – meaning they should be a priority for his working-class constituents. The author claims that issues like the Israel-Palestine conflict and gender segregation at marches were not top concerns for people in Makerfield.
The report also references recent public disturbances in Dover and Portsmouth involving masked men clashing with police, which drew widespread condemnation. It questions why similar condemnation is not applied to instances of gender segregation.
Creasy's public statements on inclusivity and gender equality are highlighted as being at odds with her perceived endorsement of a gender-segregated event. The article concludes by suggesting that Creasy's praise of the segregated march will be viewed critically until women in her constituency are not treated as second-class citizens.