Fury as Sir Keir Starmer stands by candidate who blames Israel for October 7 massacre
SIR Keir Starmer has sparked fury by standing by a candidate who blamed Israel for the October 7 massacre.
Labour’s leader was rapped for appeasing anti-Semitism.
Sir Keir refused to withdraw support for Labour’s Rochdale by-election candidate, Azhar Ali, after he was caught in a secret Labour Party recording claiming Israel “allowed” terrorists to infiltrate its borders.
In audio obtained by the Mail on Sunday, he was heard saying: “They deliberately took the security off, they allowed . . . that massacre that gives them the green light to do whatever they bloody want.”
October 7 saw 1,200 Israelis murdered and 200 kidnapped and held hostage.
Mr Ali’s “anti-Semitic” words sparked outrage and, after being called out, the wannabe MP issued an “unreserved” apology.
It is now too late for him to be replaced as Labour’s Rochdale candidate, but Sir Keir refused to suspend him from the party.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Labour is, incredibly, still backing his candidacy. This is distressingly familiar to days Keir Starmer promised were behind us.”
Housing Secretary Michael Gove added: “Keir Starmer now has a responsibility to get this guy out of the Labour Party.”
Labour’s National Campaign Coordinator Pat McFadden called Mr Ali’s comments “completely wrong”.