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

I agree with this, not just recently, but when they failed to replace Corbyn as a leader. My train of thought went " these guys do not want to get elected at this time", which terrifies me! I know we are in a mess, but this thought is very dark!
As the Rochdale MP, I think Labour has withdrawn support since yesterday.

You are stating that you agree with Ali using the anti-semitic dog whistle "people in the media from certain Jewish quarters", and by implication also state that it was wrong for Andy McDonald to be removed. How deeply unpleasant you are to not even be ashamed to admit your bigotry.

@Skodacool do you agree with all his views as put here?

"people in the media from certain Jewish quarters" refers to Jewish people and not to the Israeli government.

Blaming the Israeli government for the actions of Hamas is an anti-semitic lie too by the way. Do you tell many people who are attacked that they caused it, or only the Jewish ones?

So true. Too many people don’t bother to look at the history of this conflict.

Well this thread went well for the OP...

Why not? Seems a good thread to expose the fact there still are antisemitic views and people support them

Well I had to leave the thread early last night and am not surprised that the anti-Semites appeared to show their true colours and end up getting deleted - it was always going to go that way. They also seemed to miss the point that my thread was really about Labour's initial lack of response - I know that threads develop of course but they seemed to wilfully ignore this.

Interesting that those who are most vocal in their support of Ali seem to get their 'news' from Tiktok and Instagram which I find surprising but then perhaps I am just old.

It took Labour an age to respond - I believe this happened in October/November - but eventually Starmer has done the right thing after huge amounts of pressure. It's still not a good look and it will have really damaged the party.

Also here is an update on what else this man has said/done:

• Blamed 'people in the media from certain Jewish quarters' for fuelling criticism of a pro-Palestinian Labour MP;
• Said Israel planned to 'get rid of [Palestinians] from Gaza' and 'grab' some of the land;
• Boasted about preventing Israeli flags being flown from local public buildings after the October 7 attacks.

Where are his supporters on here now?

Its correct that Ali has finally been dropped, the bigger point is why was he selected in the first place? a man so out of touch with reality and with abhorrent views too.

The GE is months away, the country is still in an economic mess &Sunak continues to operate in another world, so i doubt this will damage Labour too much unless it starts to become a habit.

Not sure - voters are very twitchy about Labour's anti-Semitism problem and I think that there is a fear that they are showing us a semi-electable face at the moment but that things would change if they get in - who really knows?

It is so bloody frustrating as they have had the biggest of open goals and seem intent on snatching defeat from the jaws of victory over a few high profile issues.

I think the selection process - for both parties - is less rigorous for established local politicians and possibly has less national input. Hopefully this will be a lesson and the vetting will be more thorough now. It would certainly be worth a review of all the new prospective candidates.

@Dogfisher thanks for the Extra info!

100% agree OP

It's mental.

Well, they ditched him, so that tells voters what they are willing to do, Labour have conceded this seat.

People will vote on the economy inc the dire housing situation, the NHS and education.

Things like the Tories Peter Bone or Ali are side issues atm.

People will vote on the economy inc the dire housing situation, the NHS and education

Yes these are key issues but I have yet to see anything from Labour on any of these that is different from the Tories. Apart from VAT on school fees that is.

I think that because there seems to be so little difference between them (at present) people may be MORE swayed by their stance on women's rights and the anti-Semitism issue. I suppose time will tell but at the moment it feels like they don't want to win.

Having alternative policies doesn't matter to the voters atm, as shown by labs 20pt lead in the polls.

The electorate is judging the Tories and their verdict is damning, just as it was 1997, plus Blair never came out with hardened policies before the manifesto was written.

No party in opposition can predict the state of the economy many months into the future, so coming out with specific plans is very unwise, the Tories would either steal them or they'll turn out to be unaffordable.

What Labour need to do is avoid own goals such as Ali.

Israeli politicians have openly called for Palestinians to be driven into the Sinai. And for 'our Gaza' to be settled. You can actually see it happening in real time now. The Nixon government was at least embarrassed when the horrors of Vietnam poured into the living rooms of America. Netanyahu seems quite untroubled though.

"Excellent Jews" in fact.

@noblegiraffe sounds like bill & Ted :)

Rochdale seems a bit poxed anyway?
What with Gillian whatagrandouldenglishname Duffy. Aka the Rochdale Hornet.
Fast becoming the new Hartlepool. I see the Green candidate is also not supported by his party. Who needs the Monster Raving Loonies anymore?

Yes, like this.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-minister-repeats-call-palestinians-leave-gaza-2023-12-31/

Criticising the Israeli government for allowing their ministers to make statements like this is not anti semitic.

I'm glad Ali is gone, I agree with PP that the response is proportionate and has been handled well.

It took Labour an age to respond
Not nearly as long as the conservatives have taken to respond to the misdeeds of their members. Not only that but they’ve usually promoted them.

Do not make assumptions about deletions based on posts that you have not read. Disagreeing with the actions of the Israeli government makes one neither antisemitic not pro- Hammas, despite attempts by some here to make that true.

I neither support Starmer, nor Ali, but again, I posted links to the New York Times, the BBC and the Guardian- hardly Tiktok or Instagram.

All this thread does is demonstrate the impossibility of having a rational approach to the entire subject. The attack by Hammas was appalling and literally nobody is saying it was right. But the counter attack by Israel is similarly murdering many thousands of innocents, driving them from their home and land, and - right now - cornering them with nowhere to go except the sea.

Simple question - to ask those who think that criticising any action of the Israeli government is antisemitic... do you support the state sanctioned murder of 28,000 men women and children, the 68,000 injured, solely because they are Palestinian? If so, please tell us - what will be the right number of people killed and injured to even the score for the 1139 dead Israelis?