Zarah Sultana is a British politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Coventry South since the 2019 general election, representing the Labour Party until her suspension. Sultana received a six-month suspension in July 2024 as one of seven Labour MPs who voted to scrap the two-child benefit cap. On the political left, she is a member of, and currently chairs, the Socialist Campaign Group.
At the general election in 2024, Sultana was re-elected and increased her majority from 401 to over 10,000, receiving 20,361 votes. She was featured in a Vogue article about 13 female Labour MPs who were elected.
During the Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, she developed a significant media presence commenting on the situation in Gaza and UK arms exports to Israel. During this time she has become the MP receiving the most death threats and online abuse.
On 23 July 2024, she, along with six other Labour MPs, had the whip withdrawn for six months for voting against the government and in favour of a Scottish National Party amendment to end the two child benefit cap. She said that “I have to stand up for what I believe are the true values of the Labour Party and in doing so I've made difficult decisions in terms of defying the whip."
In September 2024, Sultana voted against the Labour government and in favour of a motion to block the proposed cut in winter fuel payment.
