A Newcastle councillor has raised concerns over what he describes as “conscious and unconscious bias and racism” within the city’s Labour Group, after a Muslim councillor was excluded from an official email auto-reply by a fellow Labour member.
Independent Councillor Habib Rahman, who represents Elswick ward, has accused sitting white Labour councillor Stephen Powers of marginalising a Muslim colleague in Arthur’s Hill ward in a recent automated out-of-office email.
The issue came to light as Cllr Rehman supported a constituent enquiry and emailed all three Arthur’s Hill ward councillors (Cllr Joanne Kingsland (LAB), Cllr Abdul Samad (LAB) and Cllr Stephen Powers (LAB)). He received an automatic reply from Cllr Powers, who was on holiday, referring constituents only to his fellow white Labour colleague for support—excluding the Muslim councillor who holds equal office in the ward.
“While I cannot speak to Cllr Powers’ intent, the effect of this action was clear: it marginalised a fellow Labour Councillor on the basis of identity, whether consciously or unconsciously,” said Cllr Rahman in a statement issued earlier this month.
He described the incident as “deeply concerning” and called for the Labour Group to take immediate steps to investigate and address what he sees as systemic exclusionary behaviour.
“This cannot be dismissed lightly and raises serious concerns about exclusion within political spaces that are supposed to represent and serve all communities equally,” he added.
Cllr Rahman, who left the Labour Party in 2024 citing its “repeated failure to act” on
discriminatory conduct, also referenced a broader pattern of concerns. He highlighted a previous case in which a Labour councillor was found guilty of Islamophobic comments and suspended, only to be reinstated without the whip being removed. He also noted that the Labour Group had been offered anti-racism and Islamophobia training—something he personally pushed for—but questioned its uptake and effectiveness.
“I urge the Labour Group to clarify how many of its Councillors actually completed this anti-racism and Islamophobia training. If Cllr Powers did participate, it raises deeper concerns about the training’s effectiveness and the cultural change needed within the Group,” he said.
The omission of a Muslim colleague from an official out-of-office reply, according to Cllr Rahman, sends “a damaging and divisive message” that undermines trust and inclusion—especially in a city as diverse as Newcastle.
“We cannot claim to be an anti-racist or tolerant city while racism and exclusion go unchallenged at the heart of leadership,” he said.
Asian Standard contacted Cllr Stephen Powers for comment over a week ago. At the time of publishing, no response has been received.
