Keir Starmer asked by Labour members to resign over Gaza stance
3 Min Read
Starmer's 'uncompassionate' stance is leaving him in a tight spot, even among his own colleagues who feel neglected by him, urging him to support a ceasefire or quit.
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Keir Starmer, the leader of Britain's Labour Party, delivers a speech in Liverpool, England, September 27, 2022. (AP)
Two leaders of Labour councils in Lancashire, UK, are urging Labour leader Keir Starmer to resign over his call to not push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
This comes after calls from senior Labour figures like London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, who challenged Starmer's stance, but the party's shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, relayed to Sky News, "This is about what's right for the people of Israel and Gaza. The primary focus of this is not the Labour Party."
However, Starmer still is by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's side, alongside the US'.
Prime Minister @netanyahu, I stand with you in Israel’s darkest hour.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 19, 2023
I welcome your commitment to ensure routes into Gaza are opened for humanitarian aid.
I support your work to secure the release of hostages, to strengthen your security and to end the threat from Hamas. pic.twitter.com/ZrLJALTzBN
Burnley council leader Afrasiab Anwar said, "I and colleagues across Burnley over the last few weeks have seen the sad loss of people including young children in Palestine and Israel and this has to stop immediately," adding, "I joined the Labour Party because of the values of standing up and speaking out against injustices across the world. Sadly, Keir Starmer has not stood up for Labour values, hence why we are calling upon him to step down."
"Blindly following the position of Mr. Sunak is not acceptable to us and our residents who we represent," he concluded.
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Asjad Mahmood, the Pendle council leader, noted that because Starmer is neglecting Labour members' input, he would need to "resign to allow someone to lead our party who has compassion and speaks out against injustice and indiscriminate killing of innocent human beings."
Resignations, one after the other
Starmer has been convening with his party to address concerns while hosting talks with Muslim Labour MPs in parliament since October 25. They have pressed him during the "firm" exchange to support a ceasefire.
One senior Labour MP and shadow minister to Sky News, "It's not surprising he's been challenged... Hundreds of children are dying every day in Gaza and he still can't call for a ceasefire. There goes his prime ministership."
However, a Labour spokesperson claimed the Labour leadership "unequivocally condemned the actions of the Hamas, and stressed the need to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza", adding: "The Palestinian people are not Hamas, and they are suffering terribly. That's why we support humanitarian pauses so that aid, fuel, water, electricity and medicines can urgently get to those who need it."
"We also have to recognise Israel was subject to a vile terrorist attack. Israel has a right and a duty to defend itself, rescue the hostages and stop Hamas from being able to carry out that sort of terrorist attack ever again... Keir Starmer has been clear that in the long term, there can only be a political solution to this crisis which is why we need a two-state solution of a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel."
Several councillors affiliated with the Labour Party, have tendered their resignations in recent days. Their decision to step down comes in protest of the party's leader, Keir Starmer, who expressed support for what he termed the Israeli "right" to restrict power and water supplies to Gazans.
