Why is Starmer Standing by Azhar Ali?

[Dogfisher]

AIBU to think that he should be out on his ear for his blatant anti-Semitism? I actually thought that Starmer was dealing with this in the LP - but this seems to suggest otherwise.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/feb/12/labour-criticised-for-backing-rochdale-candidate-after-offensive-israel-remark

This is just more meddling to discredit labour. It’s all they have left
😂

@Grandmasswag what does your post have to do with the thread?
And who is 'they' you are referring to?

The conservatives, obviously.

In what way have they meddled?

Wait, so you think that Azhar Ali is actually a Conservative Grandmasswag?

This seems to be the usual response if you say anything against Israel and it’s actions at the moment. It’s antisemitic, even if you’re Jewish. His comment was not antisemitic.

So you think This is the Tories doing?
Just a victory for common sense and starmer sticking to what he agreed.
I assume more information has come out that negates Ali's apology.

Labour have managed to get into this mess by themselves

@Miri13 why do you think he apologised for being deeply offensive?

More comments? Colour me surprised.

The sort of person who is willing to spout in public about how Israel deliberately allowed the murder and rape of Israelis to justify an invasion is exactly the sort of person who spouts even worse shit when not in public.

It means that their view of what is acceptable to air publicly is totally distorted.

He made these remarks in October, apparently. Why have they just come out now? After the deadline for changing a candidate? Tory press ahoy.

Azhar Ali got them into it. At least they’ve emerged with some integrity.

What do you mean? From what I have seen reported of what he said, it’s not much different to plenty of commentary I’ve seen on MSM. Of course we don’t know the ‘extra information’ that has come to light about what he said. I expect they’ve just had to us turn because the media has kicked up a fuss. There are serious questions as to how and why the attack played out the way it did. And why it took so long for defence to arrive. Is everyone who even asks questions about an extremely corrupt government causing civilian death and devastation on a scale we’ve barely seen since WW2 now going to be labelled and antisemite? Is that really the way this is going to go?

The sort of person who is willing to spout in public about how Israel deliberately allowed the murder and rape of Israelis to justify an invasion is exactly the sort of person who spouts even worse shit when not in public.

This.

Well it’s funny that that it’s all been dug up and released to the press now. If everyone were so outraged you’d think they’d have been outraged at the time!

No Labour candidate. Strange state of affairs. Does Ali go on the ballot as Independent? I'd imagine this will help Reform and or Galloway. Not a nice prospect either way.

In the longer term it might help Starmer by keeping Rishi Soonout as PM. But what a f*cking shambles.

He'll still be on the ballot with 'Labour' next to his name.

Labout did bugger all over it at the time

No investigation nada

Only under pressure

Err no, it's being vocal for Palestinians suffering one of the most ignored genocides in human history...bravo for ignoring...

Honestly, anyone with access to social media, follow any Palestinian accounts from Gaza right now. If you don't weep daily seeing what these people are suffering then you are inhuman.

The West's support for Israel in this atrocity is nothing short of criminal. Joe Biden, Rishi Sunak should be tried for war crimes alongside Netanyahu. Thank god for South Africa having the balls to stand up to the global elite.

Hmm. News management is an art. Why did the claims about UN workers appear the day after the ICJ verdict on Israel.

He should be out. But from what I understand Labour cannot put forward another candidate for the forth coming by election. It's too late. So they have a problem. Having second thoughts about voting Labour. What idiots they are.

@Abhannmor Israel have been saying that for years. Try the unwra thread.

The problem has been solved. He’s no longer the Labour candidate, there isn’t one. The right thing has been done and as a result they’ve lost a safe seat.

@Grandmasswag I wholeheartedly agree (with family there) that there is questions to answer.
Someone standing on a Labour antisemitic ticket for parliament though saying that Israel allowed civilians to be raped and murdered i have an issue with.
In the same way I would be disgusted if America was blamed for 9/11. There were intelligence failings but they didn't stand back and watch.
And it shameful that he said that. (And then apologised)