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'd be interested to know if anybody pulled him up on his comments at the meeting.

I thought I heard someone in the background saying ‘you can’t say that’ but I’ve only listened to it once. I might be mistaken.

Another reiterated similar so it sounds accepted

Who was in the meeting? Was it all Labour if so a colleague released the recording

What's a reiterated similar?

Here

By all accounts Ali was traditionally seen as as an ally of the Jewish community and worked closely with them to improve multicultural relations. Apparently this is quite out of character for him. The next potential storm will be who actually gets elected. I feel like it’s altogether possible that he might. What happens then?

I’m inclined to agree, I’ve been reading through this thread and honestly don’t really get it, but don’t like speaking over peoples lived experiences. So I’m going to ask some of my pro Palestine Jewish friends and see what they think as they’re usually fairly objective compared to many others.

Perhaps I’m missing something so I’ll keep an open mind.

If Ali gets elected, he must be reinstated as thats democracy, the electorate have heard his views, dont consider them anti semitic and want him as their MP.

Or do we decide who people can vote for? Posters on here support Meloni/Le Penn etc after all.

After all, no one stopped Boris Johnson from being a tory MP when he came out with articles that were racist and homophobic.

So true @jasflowers Boris et al got away with Islamophobic and anti- Black comments.

Three people have just been charged with supporting terrorism for wearing images of paragliders to a pro-Palestinian march in October.

Their lawyer argued that the paraglider was an image representing peace and freedom. Do you believe that argument too?

Just because someone claims that something is a wish for peace doesn't mean that there are other reasonable interpretations.

From the river to the sea is used by Hamas to call for the eradication of Israel. A phrase best avoided.

All of this!! Yes he should have focused it on the right wing press which would’ve been more accurate and fair to say. He shot himself in the foot there.

I quite agree. I just fear that a this foreign conflict will inflame certain community tensions and destabilise the U.K. further.

This anti-semitic rhetoric happened at a Labour Party meeting didn't it? So if your argument is that Starmer was unaware because no-one at the meeting reported it, then that means that party members there were absolutely fine with it apart from the one that blew the whistle/informed the press. Not sure which is worse really but either way it looks shit for Labour doesn't it?

It’s clear that in a private meeting he felt safe to express antisemitic conspiracy

Some joined in

Someone recorded and released, his own party I assume. This is all within Labour

And most of the views I’ve heard have been from Labour factions arguing their side

Unlike this thread though with supporters of the antisemitic conspiracy it’s been indefensible

Presumably it was a very grass roots level, local councils type meeting. The amount of shit that’s spouted at those meetings of all political spheres, well I doubt either Starmer or Sunak could possibly be kept abreast of every controversial thing that is said in local meetings. These things only come to light when they are reported on/leaked. Take the conservative councillors saying that people with SEN might be better being locked away in institutions for example. It’s only because the press picked up on it that anyone is any the wiser those things were said.

I would be interested to know who knew what and when but we will never find this out.

Not reporting something doesn’t mean you agree with it. If that person was so unhappy, why didn’t they report it at the time instead of taking it to the most right wing paper in existence? When it was too late to replace Ali as a candidate. The timing’s just too convenient - two by elections tomorrow and too late to put up another candidate in Rochdale.

Good on the person who released it

Vile views from a few in that meeting.

Although Labour stood by after first release and only stood down on second

We live in a democracy, so even the most despicable characters can be elected. He would then have to be an independent MP until the next election, at which point hopefully he would be replaced.

I don't envy the people of Rochdale for the choices on offer. It comes to something to look to the Monster Raving Loony candidate Ravin Rodent Subortna as the only one who is not actively known to be somewhere between evil and unsavoury.

According to the Guardian, it was a private meeting of members concerned about Labour's stance on Gaza.

Good on the person who released it

Why didn’t they do it when it happened? Why wait four months?

All hate thrives on one thing
Silence
The people who will change the nation
Are people who will speak out
Who refuse to be bystanders
And raise their voices against injustice.
When we stand up to silence
We stand up to all hate.

Dr Clarence B Jones

@Grandmasswag I think your Statement about him working hard for the Jewish community makes it even sadder and a waste. Who know whether it was a moment of madness.

The Labour Party promised to do better though and it must.

If that person was so unhappy, why didn’t they report it at the time instead of taking it to the most right wing paper in existence?

How did you know that they didn't report it though? Big assumption to make.

PLUS - Labour have only themselves to blame for this, they selected this anti-semite presumably well aware of his views. Of course the press are going to go for maximum impact - they want to sell papers and get clicks! Had the Labour Party not supported this man there would be nothing to see here.

Whoever recorded it should have passed it on to whoever drew up a shortlist of Labour candidates for the by-election.

Precisely.