Rochdale by-election: Labour withdraws backing for candidate amid ‘new Israel remarks’
![](https://article-imgs.scribdassets.com/5kzr4123nkc0tbux/images/file48QM6V1U.jpg)
Sir Keir Starmer is under fire after pulling his support for Labour’s Rochdale by-election candidate over a series of remarks he made about Israel.
The Labour leader backed Azhar Ali to contest the by-election despite him having been recorded suggesting that Israel had allowed the allowed the 7 October Hamas attack to take place in order to invade Gaza.
But, in a dramatic climbdown on Monday night, the party said its support for Mr Ali had been withdrawn following “new information about further comments”. He has also been suspended from the Labour Party pending an investigation.
The latest comments were revealed by the and came at the same Lancashire Labour Party meeting . He is alleged, who was suspended by Labour after he used the phrase “between the river and the sea” in a speech during a rally.
You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.
Start your free 30 days