Starmer’s approval for starvation of Gaza and his ban on MPs and councillors showing solidarity with Palestinians blow up in his face
Keir Starmer’s is facing mass resignations after his attempt last night to mollify councillors outraged by his support for Israeli war crimes and his ban on showing support for Palestinians ended in disaster. According to ITV’s Shehab Khan, Starmer and his acolytes arranged an ‘urgent’ with council leaders after reports of widespread resignations.
Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Starmer’s chief of staff Sue Gray were despatched to try to calm the situation but were told they ‘only have days to act’ by council leaders speaking on behalf of councillors appalled at Starmer’s support for Israel’s ‘right’ to deprive Gazan civilians of food, water, power and medical supplies – a clear war crime under international law.
Since Labour and the government were warned of the International Centre for Justice for Palestinians’ (ICJP) intention to prosecute front-benchers who collude in war crimes, Starmer has made noises designed to soften the appearance of his stance, but he and his shadow ministers have refused to condemn or even counter the starvation and mass murder of civilians by the Israeli state and clearly the mealy-mouthed equivocations have failed to impress many councillors, unsurprisingly given that Labour’s latest ‘guidance’ to MPs and councillors is no better and still unequivocally backs Israel.
Starmer has also banned MPs and councillors from participating in pro-Palestine demonstrations or any shows of support on social media and has warned party members they face expulsion if they do so – to the fury of many. Gray reportedly tried to defuse the anger at the gathering by pointing to Starmer’s subsequent equivocations, but the meeting was described to Khan as ‘a total mess’.
Council leaders said they face mass resignations – up to dozens per council. Astonishingly – or rather not, given how arrogant and out of touch the Labour right is – the party regime was said to be ‘shocked’ at the strength of feeling and the extent of the outrage.
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