It wasn’t so long ago that Keir Starmer was being widely praised for keeping his party united and on message over Israel at Labour’s conference in Liverpool. But fast forward a few weeks and the Labour leader is under pressure over his stance on Israel’s right to defend itself following the terror attacks by Hamas on 7 October.
The trouble started as a result of an interview Starmer gave to LBC soon after the attacks. Speaking in Liverpool, LBC’s Nick Ferrari asked Starmer whether ‘cutting off power, cutting off water’ was appropriate as a response to the atrocity. The Labour leader replied:
‘I think that Israel does have that right…It is an ongoing situation. Obviously, everything should be done within international law.’
The clip has since gone viral and led to a backlash from his own side. Around 23 councillors have resigned over his comments. In Oxford, the party has lost its majority on the council as a result, with eight councillors quitting.
The clip has since gone viral and led to a backlash from his own side
Starmer has faced pressure from his own MPs to clarify his position. The Leader’s Office has attempted to do this, saying he meant only that the country had a right to self-defence. Starmer also embarked on a visit to the South Wales Islamic Centre in Cardiff and tweeted to say he made it ‘clear it is not and has never been my view that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines. International law must be followed’. However, a response was issued on behalf of the centre by the Muslim Council of Wales expressing ‘dismay’ and suggesting Starmer’s statement had misrepresented the visit.
Many in the Labour ranks think Starmer is not showing sufficient support for the people of Palestine. On Tuesday, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar was much clearer in his criticism of Israel, accusing the country’s government of a ‘clear breach’ of international law in Gaza. It comes as Labour politicians usually supportive of Starmer fear that his handling could allow groups similar to George Galloway’s Respect party to take up the space left empty by the Labour leadership.
Later today, Starmer is due to meet with Muslim MPs in his own party to discuss Labour’s position on Gaza. Some of those involved want an apology from the Labour leader. As Stephen Bush and I discuss on the latest episode of Coffee House Shots, the electoral risk is that many Muslim voters – upon whom Labour relies heavily in certain seats – simply stay home or, where they can, switch to parties with more supportive positions to Palestine.
Starmer has tried to use his support for Israel as a way to show Labour has shaken off the anti-Semitism allegations that dominated Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership. But his comments means that the row risks becoming his worst party management problem to date.
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