The Labour Party have slammed George Galloway as 'only interested in stoking fear and division' after he cruised to victory in the Rochdale by-election.
13.02.2024 - 15:49 / manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Sir Keir Starmer has said he took “tough” and “decisive” action to withdraw support for Labour’s Rochdale by-election candidate, after a storm of criticism about remarks Azhar Ali made about Israel.
The Labour leader insisted the party had “changed” under his leadership after it was confirmed on Monday evening (February 12) that Mr Ali, who is understood to be suspended pending an investigation, would have Labour’s backing withdrawn. Mr Ali had apologised after he was recorded in a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party suggesting that Israel had taken the October 7 Hamas assault as a pretext to invade Gaza.
But Labour said it moved to end its backing of the candidate “following new information about further comments”. Speaking as he campaigned in Wellingborough, Sir Keir Starmer said: “Certain information came to light over the weekend in relation to the candidate. There was a fulsome apology. Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action.
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“It is a huge thing to withdraw support for a Labour candidate during the course of a by-election. It’s a tough decision, a necessary decision, but when I say the Labour Party has changed under my leadership I mean it.”
Labour had come under serious pressure after the original remarks emerged, with the comments condemned by figures inside the party as well as by political opponents. Sir Keir sought to move his party on from the Corbyn era, which was overshadowed by controversies over antisemitism.
But the party leadership is now being pressed on why Mr Ali had not been immediately suspended after the comments emerged. Labour’s handling of the row was branded
The Labour Party have slammed George Galloway as 'only interested in stoking fear and division' after he cruised to victory in the Rochdale by-election.
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Sir Keir Starmer says he has done something no other leader of the Labour Party has ever done before by 'giving up a Labour seat' in Rochdale. But the Labour leader fell short of saying that he acted quickly enough over comments made by its by-election candidate.
Over the weekend, it emerged that Labour's candidate in the Rochdale by-election made 'deeply offensive' comments about Israel at a meeting last year. Azhar Ali apologised 'unreservedly' for the comments, and the party stood by him - until last night (February 12).
A former Labour MP has reportedly been suspended from the party after another recording emerged from what is said to be the same meeting where the party's candidate in the Rochdale by-election made 'deeply offensive' comments about Israel. Graham Jones, who is Labour's candidate in Hyndburn, has been administratively suspended from the party pending an investigation, the PA news agency says.