More than 150 councillors pen furious letter to Starmer as Labour crisis erupts

The pressure is ratcheting up on Sir Keir Starmer over Labour’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war raging in Gaza, with more than 150 furious Muslim Labour councillors writing directly to their leader to demand he clarify the party’s position on a ceasefire in the region.

The letter, from the Labour Muslim Network, reads: “As Labour councillors elected to serve our constituents, the message we have been hearing repeatedly over the past two weeks is simple, people just want an end to the bloodshed and the loss of innocent life.

“Therefore, as Labour Party councillors, as members, and as members of the Muslim community we urge the Labour Party to urgently adopt a position of calling for an immediate ceasefire.”

It comes just hours before Sir Keir and his deputy leader Angela Rayner are due to hold talks this afternoon with Muslim MPs and peers over the party’s Palestine stance.

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KEY EVENTS

  • Keir Starmer criticised by Imam after staging photo-op at South Wales Islamic Centre11:37
  • Angela Rayner and Keir Starmer hatch crisis talks as Labour risks ‘haemorrhaging votes’11:30
  • Keir Starmer’s behaviour has left MPs and staff ‘in tears’11:19

    • Shadow Cabinet Ministers speak out

    The New Statesman has named a trio of senior Shadow Cabinet Ministers who warned Sir Keir about his stance on Israel and Palestine. 

    Namely: Shabana Mahmood, Louise Haigh and Wes Streeting. 

    They said the party risks losing Muslim voters if it appears “callous”.

    Keir Starmer criticised by Imam after staging photo-op at South Wales Islamic Centre

    Sir Keir Starmer’s recent visit to an Islamic centre in Wales has backfired after the group said publicly that the Labour leader had misrepresented the nature of the trip.

    Three days ago, Sir Keir posted photos from the South Wales Islamic Centre (SWIC), writing he had been “grateful to hear” from the Muslim community, and that he had “repeated our calls for all hostages to be released, more humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, for the water and power to be switched back on, and a renewed focus on the two-state solution”.

    The SWIC has now come out and apologised “for the hurt and confusion” caused by hosting the Labour leader, and expressed “dismay” about his visit claims.

    Angela Rayner and Keir Starmer hatch crisis talks as Labour risks ‘haemorrhaging votes’

    Labour stands on the brink of a new internal crisis today, as Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner are being forced into another meeting with Muslim MPs and peers over the party’s stance over Palestine.

    The Labour leadership is set to hold crisis talks with their troops after Prime Minister’s Questions, as one source claims the relationship is now “terminal”.

    Demands for hard left Labour MP to delete claims Israel caused Gaza hospital explosion

    Labour MP for Middlesbrough Andy McDonald was last night facing demands to apologise and delete social media claims that Israel was responsible for the bombing of Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza.

    It comes after British intelligence concluded the missile was in fact fired from Gaza.

    Keir Starmer’s behaviour has left MPs and staff ‘in tears’

    Sir Keir Starmer’s position on Israel has “left some MPs and staff ‘in tears'” according to Sky News. 

    The broadcaster reports a party source claiming Sir Keir has demonstrated a “pattern of behaviour [that is] deeply insensitive”. 

    A Labour spokesman has argued Sir Keir and David Lammy have called for humanitarian aid to Palestine including water and fuel. 

    Labour MP demands Keir Starmer apologises

    Ahead of this lunchtime’s crunch showdown between Sir Keir Starmer and pro-Palestine MPs, one MP has told Sky News what he should say. 

    “I’ve got it wrong. I apologise. Let’s work together – but this is on me.”

    More details on the letter from Muslim leaders

    News of the letter from Muslim leaders to Sir Keir Starmer, reported by ITV’s Shehab Khan, comes after reports Labour MPs have seen their inboxes “flooded with constituents from all backgrounds” demanding their leader call for a ceasefire. 

    Good morning

    Good morning from London.

    The Daily Express political team is on hand to bring you all the latest developments, insight and analysis on the current crisis engulfing the Labour Party. 

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