Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, is facing criticism for his handling of the controversy surrounding the Rochdale by-election candidate, Azhar Ali. Ali came under fire for remarks he made about Israel, suggesting that Israel deliberately allowed Hamas's October 7 massacre to happen, which some have labeled as an antisemitic conspiracy theory. Despite initial pressure to act, Labour initially declined to suspend Ali. However, following the emergence of new information regarding further comments made by Ali, the Labour Party has withdrawn its support for him as their candidate in the Rochdale by-election. Critics argue that Starmer's response was delayed and inadequate, with some saying that immediate action should have been taken to remove Ali from the Labour Party and suspend the campaign.
Sir Keir Starmer’s judgement is under fire over the delay in withdrawing support for Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali after his anti-Israel rant https://t.co/LywusDlQvy
Starmer urged to discipline Rochdale candidate over Israel-Gaza remarks https://t.co/Y8LdtPkw67
REVEALED: The bombshell full anti-Semitic comments of Labour's Rochdale by-election candidate that FORCED Sir Keir Starmer to ditch his man… hours after rallying behind him https://t.co/QBsWRo20cU https://t.co/7e05oOANIc
Labour drops support for candidate in Rochdale parliamentary by-election https://t.co/uSvMisSZey
Labour has withdrawn its support for Rochdale candidate Azhar Ali. Whatever the reason, too little & too late. Starmer should have immediately removed Mr Ali’s Labour membership & suspended Labour’s campaign. Nothing moral or principled about this delayed decision whatsoever.
Keir Starmer WITHDRAWS support for Rochdale by-election candidate as antisemitism row escalates https://t.co/1gQDMTBFm1
BREAK: “Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale by-election."
Labour declines to suspend Rochdale by-election candidate over Israel comments https://t.co/KQlTTFxsTl
Sir Keir Starmer under growing pressure to cut adrift Labour’s Rochdale by-election candidate as a shadow minister admitted he had repeated an “antisemitic conspiracy theory” https://t.co/zkTI0DEwug
Labour criticised for backing Rochdale candidate after offensive Israel remark https://t.co/hGCC85l05A
Sir Keir Starmer slammed for 'tin-eared' response to anti-Israel rant by Rochdale candidate https://t.co/5newUiVCIu
Starmer slammed for 'tin-eared' stance to anti-Israel rant by Rochdale candidate https://t.co/5newUiVCIu
Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to cut Labour’s Rochdale by-election candidate for claiming Israel deliberately allowed Hamas's October 7 massacre to happen https://t.co/2lIXfZQT2B