Labour candidate Azhar Ali’s comments on Israel and Jewish people prompt decisive action by Sir Keir Starmer
In a recent turn of events, Sir Keir Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, has taken “decisive action” regarding comments made by Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali about Israel and Jewish people. Initially, Labour faced criticism for standing by Mr. Ali after it was revealed that he claimed Israel had “allowed” the 7 October attacks by Hamas. However, on Monday, the party announced that it was withdrawing its support for him after further remarks came to light. Sir Keir Starmer defended this decision, stating that it was a tough but necessary move.
During a visit to Wellingborough, Sir Keir explained, “Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action.” He acknowledged that withdrawing support for a Labour candidate during a by-election was a significant step but emphasized that the Labour Party had changed under his leadership. This incident highlights the ongoing battles that Sir Keir Starmer faces as he strives to reshape the party.
Despite the withdrawal of support, Mr. Ali will still be listed as the Labour candidate on the ballot paper for the by-election on 29 February. Electoral law prevents his removal at this stage. However, it has been reported that he has been suspended from the party pending an investigation into his comments.
The controversy surrounding Mr. Ali erupted over the weekend when he apologized for comments made at a meeting of local party members and councillors. These comments were reported by the Mail on Sunday and claimed that Israel had “allowed” the Hamas attacks as a pretext to invade Gaza. Initially, Labour defended him as a candidate, citing his apology and retraction of his remarks. However, on Monday evening, the party reversed its stance, citing the emergence of further comments. The Daily Mail published a fuller recording from the meeting in which Mr. Ali allegedly blamed “people in the media from certain Jewish quarters” for the suspension of Andy McDonald from Labour.
The handling of this case has faced criticism, with Martin Forde, who led a review into allegations of bullying and racism in the Labour Party, describing it as “pretty shambolic.” He suggested that it would have been sensible to withdraw support for Mr. Ali when his initial comments came to light. Forde also highlighted a perception among some left-leaning MPs that disciplinary action is slow for certain factions within the party. In response, Sir Keir Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to tackling antisemitism within the Labour Party, stating that he had ruthlessly changed the party since becoming leader.
Former Labour MP Lord Mann, who now advises the government on antisemitism, defended Sir Keir’s decision, calling it bold and praising his willingness to sacrifice a parliamentary seat. Lord Mann believes that the Jewish community will find comfort in Sir Keir’s actions. However, the Conservatives accused Sir Keir of only acting due to media pressure, with Housing Minister Lee Rowley describing the situation as a “complete mess.”
The withdrawal of support for Mr. Ali has significant implications not only for the by-election but also for the upcoming general election. It is highly unlikely that he will be chosen by the party to fight in this year’s general election. This decision adds an extra layer of uncertainty to the outcome of the by-election in Rochdale, where Labour currently holds a majority of over 9,000 votes. Other candidates running in the by-election include former Labour MPs Simon Danczuk, now representing the Reform Party, and George Galloway, from the Workers Party of Britain, who has been critical of Labour’s stance on Gaza.
This incident serves as a reminder of the challenges Sir Keir Starmer faces in his mission to reshape the Labour Party and address issues of antisemitism within its ranks. As the by-election approaches, the outcome will be closely watched, with implications for both the local constituency and the wider political landscape.
