Labour beneath fireplace for ‘shambolic’ U-turn on Rochdale candidate as new feedback emerge – newest | EUROtoday

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Sunak accuses Starmer of ‘standing by’ Azhar Ali after Israel remarks

Labour chief Keir Starmer is coming beneath stress over the get together’s “shambolic” U-turn on assist for its Rochdale byelection candidate Azhar Ali, who reportedly instructed Israel had allowed Hamas’s 7 October terror assault to happen.

Ali had apologised after he was recorded suggesting in a gathering of the Lancashire Labour Party that Israel had taken the 7 October Hamas assault as a pretext to invade Gaza. He was initially backed by the get together for his swift apology and retraction of the remarks.

But, in a dramatic climbdown 36 hours in a while Monday night timethe get together stated its assist for Mr Ali had been withdrawn following “new information about further comments”. He has additionally been suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation.

The newest feedback had been revealed by the Daily Mail and got here on the identical Lancashire Labour Party assembly the place Mr Ali made his earlier remarks about Israel.

He is alleged to have stated “people in the media from certain Jewish quarters” had been “giving crap” about MP Andy McDonaldwho was suspended by Labour after he used the phrase “between the river and the sea” in a speech throughout a rally.

Martin Forde KC, who an investigation into antisemitism inside Labour, described the choice to withdraw assist for Ali 36 hours after his first feedback got here to mild as “pretty shambolic”.

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Handling of Ali case reveals ‘double standard’ – former Labour coverage chief

Labour’s former director of coverage has stated the get together’s dealing with of Azhar Ali’s alleged antisemitic feedback “revealed a double standard”.

Andrew Fisher’s feedback got here after former MP Dame Louise Ellman instructed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I was very shocked when I read about and heard Azhar Ali’s comments, and I was very shocked because they were really at odds with my experience of him over a period of 20 years, where he consistently spoke out against extremism, against antisemitism.

“When I looked at his apology I could see that it was a proper apology, (he) apologised for what he said, not apologising for the words, or (like) some people say, for any offence caused.”

Mr Fisher, former director of coverage beneath Jeremy Corbyn, responded on Today: “(The treatment of Mr Ali) revealed a double standard. I think you’ve heard that from Louise Ellman just now, she very openly said I worked with him, he was an ally of mine, we gave him the benefit of the doubt.

“That doesn’t apply to people who are on the left, ever, and that’s the double standard.

“These disciplinary processes are used for factional reasons within the Labour Party and that results in people like Azhar Ali being given the benefit of the doubt, being backed up by shadow cabinet ministers on the radio. Shadow cabinet ministers still going out campaigning for him on Sunday.”

Matt Mathers13 February 2024 09:24

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Labour MP: Keir Starmer must cease ‘fence-sitting on big issues’

Rosie Duffield says her get together must be clearer over what they stand for – and cease sitting on the fence on huge points, Archie Mitchell reviews.

The Labour MP additionally criticised Keir Starmer’s resolution to u-turn on the get together’s key inexperienced spending pledge.

She instructed GB News : “I don’t have any sort of input into the future manifesto as a backbencher, but I know that a lot of Labour MPs would really like some clarity on our policies going forward because we’re always asked about it. I was really disappointed with the scrapping of the green pledges, as were lots of other vocal Labour MPs, so it would be nice to get a bit more clarity on those issues. A bit less fence sitting in the next few months.

“And we’re going to have to do that, aren’t we? So people know what we stand for?”

Asked if she, herself, felt she actually knew what Labour stands for on a number of the larger points she continued: “No. I think people are obviously developing our manifesto. So hopefully we’ll hear that quite soon.”

Ms Duffield additionally stated her get together had work to do when it got here to being clearer over trans-issues.

She added: “We haven’t exactly been clear on those issues for the last few years, but I mean, what can I say I think we’re still in a bit of a mess about it, to be completely honest. I’m not sure sitting on the fence on this issue is really winning the Labour Party and your friends.”

(PA Archive)

Matt Mathers13 February 2024 08:44

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Labour MPs really feel there’s a ‘disparity in treatment’ on antisemitism allegations

Labour MPs really feel there’s a “disparity in treatment” inside the get together about antisemitism allegations, the lawyer of the Forde Report has stated.

Martin Forde KC led the 2022 report that discovered factional disputes between the get together’s proper and left beneath former chief Jeremy Corbyn, and that each side had weaponised antisemitism.

He instructed BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that Labour’s resolution to withdraw assist from its Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali 36 hours after allegations of antisemitism emerged “appears pretty shambolic”.

Mr Forde stated: “If you want a fair and transparent system then it has to deal with people consistently, and I’m aware from discussions with some of the MPs within the party – who might be described as left-leaning – that they feel that when it comes to disciplinary action taken against them then things move rather slowly, but if you’re in the right faction of the party, as it were, then things are dealt with either more leniently or more swiftly.

“Now that’s the perception, I can’t quantify it, but I do think it’s something that leadership should be concerned to, in a away, dilute, or if it is in fact the case, they need to give reassurance to members of the voting public and to their members that people will be treated fairly.”

Matt Mathers13 February 2024 08:26

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Labour accused of ‘going to ground’ as no entrance bencher on morning broadcast spherical

Housing minister Lee Rowley accused Labour of “going to ground” after no shadow minister appeared on Tuesday’s morning media spherical amid criticism of remarks made by Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali.

Mr Rowley instructed Sky News: “I mean, where is Labour? Where’s Labour today? Talking to people like yourselves, they’re not doing it.

“They’re going to ground.”

It was put to Mr Rowley that he was on “dodgy ground” accusing one other get together of going to floor when the federal government is “not always around”, to which he replied: “That is a party which has not changed. It’s a party which will say anything to win government, and I hope people are watching.

“They’ve got no plan and they’re getting themselves into a real mess over things like this.”

Housing minister Lee Rowley

(PA Wire)

Matt Mathers13 February 2024 08:24

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Full report: Labour axes assist for Rochdale by-election candidate as ‘new Israel remarks’ floor

But, in a dramatic climbdown on Monday night time, the get together stated its assist for Mr Ali had been withdrawn following “new information about further comments”. He has additionally been suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation.

Matt Mathers13 February 2024 08:20

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Rwanda Bills ‘needs tightening to avoid legal challenges’, says Tory peer

The Government’s proposed Rwanda asylum laws “needs further tightening to avoid potential legal challenges that would prevent it from achieving its aims”, in response to a Conservative peer.

Baroness Lawlor, talking in favour of modification 32 in a bid to disapply “relevant” home and worldwide legislation from the Bill, instructed the Lords: “The first reason for this amendment is a practical one – it is pointless to make a law that is unlikely to work and that sadly seems to be the case for the present Bill unless it is amended.

“The second reason is a deeper one. There is no doubt that there’s a popular wish for the small boats to be stopped and that one of the reasons why the Government was elected was to control our borders.

“Unless it makes a law strong enough to withstand whatever challenge might be brought to it through national or international law, the Government will be failing the people on whose support the laws made to govern Britain should be grounded and trust in the democratic system – with its political parties, Parliament and government and the judiciary – will be lost.”

Tara Cobham13 February 2024 07:00

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Rishi Sunak defends under-fire Rwanda coverage as voters grill prime minister reside on TV

Rishi Sunak has defended his under-fire Rwanda coverage because the UK public grilled the prime minister reside on TV.

Tara Cobham13 February 2024 06:00

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PM defends Rwanda coverage as mandatory ‘deterrent’ to unlawful migration

The Prime Minister defended his dedication to the Rwanda coverage by saying it’s mandatory as “a deterrent” to unlawful migration.

Rishi Sunak was requested by one voter at GB News’ People’s Forum, a retired lady from Middleton-in-Teesdale, why he was “so adamant” concerning the Rwanda coverage “when public documentation shows it isn’t working and that it’s not going to work”.

Mr Sunak stated it was wanted to sort out unlawful migration, including: “In order to fully solve this problem, we need a deterrent.

“We need to be able to say pretty simply and unequivocally that if you come to our country illegally, you won’t get to stay.

“We want to be able to remove you either to your home country if it’s safe, like we’ve done with Albania, and for everyone else we need an alternative and that’s what Rwanda is about.

“So yes, we’ve made progress – down by third – but in order to fully solve this problem, we need a deterrent. That’s what Rwanda is all about and that is why I’m absolutely committed to getting this bill through Parliament and getting this scheme up and running.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak throughout GB News’ People’s Forum

(PA Average)

Tara Cobham13 February 2024 05:00

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Minister admits recent Navy embarrassment ‘unacceptable’ as warship fails to set sail

Alexander Butler13 February 2024 04:00

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Sunak accuses Starmer of ‘standing by’ Azhar Ali after Israel remarks

Sunak accuses Starmer of ‘standing by’ Azhar Ali after Israel remarks

Rishi Sunak accused Sir Keir Starmer of standing by Labour Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali as he spoke to members of the general public throughout a GB News discussion board on Monday, 12 February. The prime minister stated the Labour chief “stood by” the politician and “sent cabinet ministers to support him, until literally five minutes before I walked on tonight under enormous media pressure.” Labour withdrew its assist for Mr Ali following criticism of remarks he made about Israel. Mr Ali apologised after he was recorded suggesting that Israel allowed the October 7 Hamas assault and used it as a pretext to invade Gaza. “The Labour Party hasn’t changed. It’s a con,” Mr Sunak added.

Alexander Butler13 February 2024 03:00

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rochdale-byelection-labour-starmer-sunak-azhar-ali-b2495183.html