UK elections: How British-Arabs voted

A shock election result has left the UK with a hung Parliament, with social media touting the role of youth in crushing PM Theresa May’s expectations of a landslide Tory victory. Many in Britain felt jubilation, excitement and, for the first time since the Brexit disappointment, a sense of hope.

But the victory (which British football legend Gary Linekar tweeted as an “own goal”) appears to be short lived, with May likely to remain in her position thanks to backing from the Democratic Unionist Party.

Hours after the final results were revealed and May had promised to form a party “that can provide certianty,” we asked British-Arabs in and outside the UK who they voted for and why—and how they feel now that it’s really all over.

“I voted tactically for the LibDems because there’s no point voting Labour in my parents’ constituency, where I’m currently registered to vote. I wanted to keep the Tories OUT at all costs or at the very least keep them well in check, given the terrible damage they might do to the NHS, not to mention what terms they would negotiate on Brexit. And despite any misgivings I might have about Corbyn, I can’t stand May. She seems to rule from a perch, no breadth or depth to her worldview. And she’s cold and clinical. Theresa May is slowly beginning to resemble Ahmad Shafiq . . . I think this coalition government will probably limp along until yet another general election, which may happen sooner than we think.”

—Nadia Naqib, Cairo-based Acquisitions Editor, AUC Press

“I voted Labour because the Tories are evil and don't care about the working class or the disabled. They are effectively dismantling the NHS and I’m also worried about May’s recent views on human rights. The future is looking grim under a majority Tory Cabinet. I'm disappointed but not very surprised. Hopefully the results and the fact they have lost so many seats will mean they step away from some of their harsher policies.”
—Maha El-Habashy, care services administrator, UK

“I voted for Labour to safeguard the future of our NHS! Now I’m seriously concerned about the future of the NHS and our social care.”
—Reem El-beshbishi, Trainee GP, UK

“I didn’t actually vote but wanted Labour despite my misalignment with their foreign and economic policies—simply because of the softer Brexit or no Brexit outlook they promise. I feel that May took a very strong blow to her Brexit hard talks ambitions, because the election led to a minority government. Her Brexit talks now will be softer and more rational to say the least. I am an adamant "stay" believer and believe that Brexit is the biggest blow to our future as millennials.”
—British-Egyptian, resident in Cairo, name withheld at interviewee’s request

“My vote went to Jeremy Corbyn, because I don’t trust Theresa May.”
—Aisha Ghazy, Cairo

“I voted Labour because of what May and the Conservatives have been doing to the NHS. Another worrying trend is rising tuition fees which Corbyn had promised to curb.”
—Sarah El-beshbishi, cognitive science graduate, UK