Keir Starmer deepens Labour crisis over Gaza as he backs calls for a clampdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations despite more than a score of furious councillors resigning over his stance on Israel

• The party leader said ministers had to look at ‘gaps in the law’ over ‘jihad’ chants
• Some 23 councillors have resigned over the Labour leader’s stance on Israel 

Sir Keir Starmer today risked inflaming the simmering Labour row over Gaza as he backed a police crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests.

The party leader – a former director of public prosecutions – said ministers had to look at ‘gaps in the law’ amid a row over weekend demos in which people chanted ‘jihad’ while officers looked on.

It came as Suella Braverman was due to meet the head of the Metropolitan Police, commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, over the softly-softly approach.

Sir Keir is already facing a rebellion from grassroots members and left-wing MPs. Some 23 councillors have already quit saying he should be taking a tougher stance against Israeli ‘war crimes’.

In addition, 33 Labour backbenchers are among 66 MPs to sign as motion attacking  ‘the collective punishment of the Palestinian people’ and calling for a humanitarian ceasefire.

Asked about the chants of ‘jihad’ today on a visit to the Port Talbot steelworks, Sir Keir told broadcasters: ‘There’s been a huge increase in hate crime in the last couple of weeks, tragically. We’ve all got a duty to clamp down on hate crime whatever political party we’re in.

‘Obviously, the police are independent operationally, so these are decisions for them.

‘I think there have already been identified some gaps in the law in a previous review under this Government and I think the Government needs to look at whether there are gaps in the law that need to be addressed as well.’

Among the issues raised by Labour councillors is an LBC interview in which Sir Keir suggested Israel has ‘the right’ to cut off power and water to Gaza.

He later reneged, suggesting he had meant that Israel should only defend itself within international law.

That, and a ban on attending pro-Palestine demos, led to more than 20 councillors quitting. Most are on heavily pro-Labour councils in areas like Oxford and Manchester, but there have been warnings that the party could cede power on some some local authorities of more stand down.  

A parliamentary source said: ‘Over the past week, Starmer’s team started the fire by ignoring prominent MPs sounding the sirens around the LBC interview.

‘Privately, Muslim MPs were furious and vocal with the leadership. Council resignations are continuing and the traditional vote bank has, in just a fortnight, collapsed.’

Lynne Jones, who represented Birmingham Selly Oak for 18 years, left the party last week in protest.

She also cited the Labour leader’s interview on LBC earlier this month. 

Mrs Jones told the BBC: ‘It was the end of my tether – he was condoning war crimes on the part of the Israeli government.

‘He’s a human rights lawyer and he knows that collective punishment is not allowed under international law.’

Yesterday Labour frontbencher Lisa Nandy (pictured) struggled with a line of questioning from the BBC over why it took so long – nine days – for Sir Keir to clarify his comments

Sir Keir has sought to quell anger within the Labour ranks by meeting with councillors and assuring them of the party’s position on the conflict, but insiders have warned that it is too little, too late.

Yesterday Labour frontbencher Lisa Nandy struggled with a line of questioning from the BBC over why it took so long – nine days – for Sir Keir to clarify his comments.

‘He’s clarified this week that he was answering the previous question and then went on to talk about the importance of international law,’ she said.

‘I completely understand why people in the Muslim community are in extraordinary amounts of pain right now and heard those words and felt very concerned.

‘I’m glad we’ve clarified that, I’m glad we’ve been consistent about that – Keir, David Lammy and myself – and continue to be consistent about that.’

Source: Read Full Article