Voters must ensure Ali is poll-axed

WE HAVE grown used to conspiracy theories but I have always expected people in responsible positions to pooh-pooh rather than encourage them. It is therefore profoundly disturbing that the Labour candidate in the Rochdale by-election, Azhar Ali, said that the Israelis knew of Hamas’s intentions before the attack on October 7 but allowed it to happen in order to give them an excuse for bombing Gaza.

Of course he said it privately and has since apologised but if this is his thinking then is he fit to enter Parliament?

Labour was in a difficult position. Nominations had closed and it could not change candidates, so instead of simply withdrawing its support for Ali it originally gave in to the temptation to put political advantage before decency.

Under pressure it has now reversed that decision but it is a by-election Labour could have won and therefore its instinct was to support its candidate even if that candidate is both ignorant and anti-Semitic .

I am not one who says that criticism of Israel is automatically anti-Semitic as there is no reason for any government to be above scrutiny, but the theory of connivance put forward by Ali, above, goes way beyond that.

He is not fit for office and the voters of Rochdale should remember that when heading to the polls.

The choice of serious candidates is now limited to the Tories or Reform and to endorse the former would be to endorse the unholy mess they have made of the country since being returned with an 80-seat majority. No wonder voters are fed up and disillusioned.

It is time for change.