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

Yes, I am sure. I am also sure you will come back with some ignorant bs.

Any examples?

You are sure, ok it would help if you could tell us where Jewish people are being ethinically cleansed from?

Well said @Violetparis . No squeaking from this quarter. There's quite a list of Jewish Labour members who have been expelled for antisemitism now. Starmer's office seems to be run by Lewis Carroll.

Speaking of smear campaigns - there was an interesting piece on Radio4 about the fake Sadiq Khan audio which led to the chaotic scenes on Remembrance Sunday. There will be a lot more shit like that when the General Election is called no doubt.

If the by-elections go badly for the Tories tomorrow, I'm sure there'll be more recordings etc splashed all over the right-wing press on Friday.

Not sure what you’re responding to but on ‘smear campaign’ this presumably was released by a Labour person in the meeting

This mess comes from Labour factions and antisemitic conspiracy entirely

It’s Labour releasing them

To the Tory press.

Sure they didn’t like what they heard and released it

The DM wouldn’t have it without that Labour release

And as easily evidenced the DM is just as happy to go for either party on this kind of stuff

@dapsnotplimsolls as much as I get what your saying.... wouldn't a member of the Labour council have to have been in on it?

@Abhannmor and insinuating it was fake? Sowing the seed? He apologised and admitted to it?

I think all parties have bad apples but isn't it important we get rid now. Rather than post election?

So someone saying Israel is guilty of genocide is antisemitic is it, how?

On what basis are we allowed criticise the Israeli government if at all?

I don't deny it must be a Labour member who recorded it and leaked it. My point is that the Tory press will time any more revelations very carefully. Unless they decide to go full-on 'Time's Up Rishi, Bring Back Boris - our Last Hope'.

@Someonescatmum do you think the Labour leaning press would have printed it?

I suppose I am trying gauge motives. He can't be replaced so ?

The whole of partygate was carefully timed releases for maximum damage

It’s nothing new

I didn't say it was.

Good if you can see this as it’s not party aligned

The idea the DM only goes for Labour is out

My ignorance knows no boundaries! I did not know about jewish labour members getting in trouble for antisemitism.
35 pending, 11 expelled or suspended in my first google search on the subject.
Surely this cannot be true, I would not expect jewish people to be antisemites, but surely, never that many.
This is not looking good....

So true. Prejudice only matters one way. So much hypocrisy.

If it is being used as a legally recognised term, and people can lose jobs etc if accused of it (and rightly so where discrimination/ racism have occured), dialogue about what constitutes antisemitism must include those across society.
I have seen someone up thread quote the American Jewish Committee's definition of anti-Semitism as though it is definitive. Yet the landing page of the website clearly states that one of their aims is to support Israel.
If the term is to be legally recognised in that way (and it absolutely should be) there needs to be much more robust consideration to it's meaning.

If the by-elections go badly for the Tories tomorrow, I'm sure there'll be more recordings etc splashed all over the right-wing press on Friday

You have a pretty low opinion of the Labour Party don't you?

So someone saying Israel is guilty of genocide is antisemitic is it, how?

So you WERE being sarcastic. My apologies, I thought you may have been engaging in good faith.

So this guy heard that Israel had been warned of the attacks ahead, and he thought they had failed to act on this because they wanted to have an excuse to attack Hamas?

It's not just speculation, but pretty accepted, that Hamas is quite happy to draw attacks on the Palestinian people so as to create sympathy for them, and turn people against Israel.

States do things like this too, and it would not shock me to find Israel had done something similar. The question is whether it is true. But I'd not dismiss it out of hand.

If Ali really believed this is what happened, I don't think it would have to suggest any kind of antisemitism. If he repeated it despite knowing it wasn't true, that might suggest antisemitism.

Tempest he has said further things which are very clearly anti-semitic.

Eh? I'll probably vote for them. Even though it's pointless where I live.

dapsnotplimsolls you clearly think that there is more anti-semitic crap to come from Labour otherwise why say that more recordings will come out? And yet you will vote for them?