In a significant blow to the leader of the United Kingdom’s main opposition party, Labour, a frontbencher has resigned over his refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. Sir Keir Starmer’s position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has cost him political support and could potentially impact his chances in the next general election.
For the past few months, Labour has enjoyed a considerable lead over the right-wing Conservative Party in opinion polls. However, since Israel launched its retaliatory air raids against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Starmer has been navigating a volatile period that threatens to undermine his leadership.
Late on Tuesday, shadow minister Imran Hussain resigned from Labour’s front bench in protest at Starmer’s refusal to push for an Israeli ceasefire. About 50 Labour Party councillors, many of whom are Muslim, had previously resigned from the party itself over Starmer’s position, with some even calling for his resignation.
Starmer, who is considered the frontrunner to become the UK’s prime minister in the next general election, joined other Western leaders in condemning the October 7 attacks by Hamas as “terrorism.” However, as the Israeli bombardment of Gaza continued and the death toll rose, Starmer faced accusations of supporting a “genocide.”
Starmer’s troubles began after an interview with British broadcaster LBC, where he appeared to endorse Israel’s tactic of withholding water and electricity from Gaza. Despite later attempts to clarify his remarks, the damage had already been done.
The resignations within Labour highlight the deep divisions within the party. Critics, including Chris Doyle from the Council for Arab-British Understanding, argue that the anger against Starmer is personal, with many accusing him of failing to call a ceasefire and condemn Israel’s actions.
Afrasiab Anwar, the Labour leader of Burnley Council, believes that Starmer’s response to the LBC interview and subsequent backlash has been a failure. Anwar is among those who have resigned, considering it the most difficult decision of his political career.
Starmer has been actively distancing Labour from the pro-Palestinian stance of his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn. He has sacked shadow education secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey and suspended Corbyn himself over allegations of anti-Semitism. These moves, along with his opposition to a ceasefire in Gaza, have led many to view Starmer as a staunch supporter of the Israeli state.
While Starmer’s position may appeal to some voters, particularly those who support Israel, it risks alienating the UK’s Muslim communities, who traditionally vote for Labour and strongly support the Palestinian cause. Over 250 Muslim Labour councillors recently wrote to Starmer, demanding that he press for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The potential impact of these resignations and the party’s stance on Gaza on Labour’s electoral prospects remains uncertain. However, there are concerns that the party could face a revolt from Muslim communities in a general election.
As Aamir Darr, the founder of the Multicultural Bookshop in Bradford, a city with a significant Muslim population, stated, “Gaza has proven a wake-up call to people around me in my community in terms of who will deliver for their interests. And I think the resignation of the Labour councillors and the Labour shadow minister is just the first step.”
In conclusion, Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza has sparked significant political backlash within his own party. This backlash threatens to undermine his leadership and could have implications for Labour’s electoral prospects, particularly among Muslim communities who traditionally support the party and the Palestinian cause. The situation remains fluid, and it remains to be seen how this issue will impact future political developments in the United Kingdom.
