Labour disowns candidate in anti-semitism row
‘It is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values’
LABOUR has withdrawn support for its Rochdale by-election candidate and suspended him from the party after he was embroiled in an anti-semitism row.
Sir Keir Starmer had stood by Azhar Ali despite growing protest from the Jewish community after Mr Ali claimed that Israel deliberately let Hamas massacre its citizens on Oct 7 to pave the way for an invasion of Gaza.
But he was finally forced into the about-turn after “further comments” surfaced yesterday.
Mr Ali is understood to have been suspended from the party pending investigation. He will not be replaced as Labour’s candidate in the Rochdale byelection on Feb 29 as it is not possible to amend the ballot now nominations have closed.
Mr Ali will technically remain the party’s candidate, but is likely to have the whip removed immediately if he wins, making him an independent MP.
It means Labour is effectively conceding the seat, where it has a majority of approximately 9,000.
Labour had vowed to keep campaigning for Mr Ali after he apologised for accusing Israel of paving the way for the slaughter of their own people on Oct 7.
But last night, a party spokesman said: “Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour Party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale byelection. Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognisable from the party of 2019. We understand that these are highly unusual circumstances but it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values.”
Shortly before the statement was published, it emerged that the party had received a formal complaint over Mr Ali’s comments from the director of campaign group Labour Against Antisemitism.
The organisation, which is not affiliated with Labour, told Sky News: “Sir Keir Starmer has made good progress fighting anti-semitism in the Labour Party, but this episode shows that more needs to be done or it risks becoming a bigger problem.”
Last night the Daily Mail released an audio tape allegedly revealing further comments made by Mr Ali at the same time as his previously reported remarks about the October 7 attack.
He is said to have claimed Israel was planning a “land grab” in Gaza, and blamed Jewish people in the media for
fuelling criticism of Andy Mcdonald, the Labour MP suspended after using the slogan “between the river and the sea”.
The Jewish Labour Movement said it was “correct” that Mr Ali would no longer be able to become a Labour MP. The group said: “When we first heard of Ali’s comments, we immediately withdrew our support, cancelling our campaign days and resources. In light of new information and further comments from Ali, Labour is right to cease all campaigning for him.
“As he cannot be removed from the ballot, we believe it is correct that he will not sit as a Labour MP if elected.”
It also emerged yesterday that Mr Ali had called for Israel to be investigated for potential war crimes in Gaza just weeks after the Oct 7 attacks took place against Israel.
In a letter to Sir Keir after the Hamas attacks, he joined around 40 Labour councillors in accusing Israel of a “blatant violation of international law” with “collective punishment” of Palestinians.
The signatories said that it had been “deeply unsettling” to witness the “relentless bombardment” of Gaza, and they criticised the “historical injustice of the illegal occupation of Palestinian land”.
The letter also urged the United Nations and International Criminal Court to appoint independent arbitrators “to assess the validity of evidence of war crimes”, according to local reports, and claimed that there was “undeniable proof ” of “Israeli military brutality” in the West Bank.
According to reports by LancsLive and The Lancashire Post, the letter from the group of Labour councillors, sent later in October, said: “Our residents have experienced profound distress due to the unfolding humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
“It has been deeply unsettling to witness the tragedy in Gaza and Israel. Amidst the relentless bombardment in Gaza, there is undeniable proof of Israeli military brutality in the West Bank.”
The letter added: “We firmly assert the importance of upholding international law. We vehemently condemn any actions that lead to the loss of innocent lives.
“Israel’s blatant violation of international law through the denial of essential resources such as food, water and fuel must be unequivocally denounced.
“The collective punishment of 2.2 million Palestinians cannot be justified.”