More than 30 Labour councillors have resigned from the party in anger at Sir Keir Starmer's refusal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, with one Bradford councillor saying it is “too little, too late”. Taj Salam, a bus driver and councillor for Little Horton, threw his membership card in the bin on 11 October after Starmer appeared to endorse Israel cutting off power and water to Gaza.
Starmer has instead called for “humanitarian pauses” to allow aid into Gaza, arguing that a full ceasefire would embolden Hamas. In a speech on Tuesday, he said: “While I understand calls for a ceasefire, at this stage I do not believe that is the correct position now.” The stance has caused a growing rift within the party, with London mayor Sadiq Khan, Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar all urging a ceasefire.
Salam, who has been a Labour member since migrating to Bradford in 1978, said: “I’d tell him he’s in no position to lead the party that is meant to stand against oppression.” He added that even if Starmer called him now, he would “give him a piece of my mind”. At least 330 Labour councillors have signed a letter calling for an immediate ceasefire, and 16 frontbenchers have broken ranks, including shadow Treasury minister Tan Dhesi, who accused Israel of “collective punishment”.
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy warned that shadow cabinet members who openly defy Starmer should resign, saying “collective responsibility is hugely important”. Meanwhile, backbench MP Andy McDonald has been suspended for “deeply offensive” comments at a pro-Palestinian rally. The rebellion highlights deepening divisions within the party over the Israel-Hamas conflict.
