Labour has suspended Graham Jones, the parliamentary candidate for Hyndburn, over remarks made about Israel at a private meeting last year. The decision comes less than 24 hours after the party withdrew support from Azhar Ali, its candidate for the Rochdale byelection, following the leak of recordings from the same meeting.
Party sources confirmed the suspension on Tuesday as Keir Starmer faced internal criticism over his handling of the crisis. Starmer defended his actions, stating: 'Certain information came to light over the weekend... Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action.'
The recordings, from a meeting in October between Ali, Jones, and Labour councillors, captured Jones expressing views that the Jewish Labour Movement described as 'appalling'. Jones was heard saying 'fucking Israel' and incorrectly claimed that British people fighting for the Israel Defense Forces were breaking the law.
Jones's suspension follows the party's withdrawal of support for Ali, who had suggested Israel deliberately allowed the Hamas attack on 7 October as a pretext for its assault on Gaza. Starmer initially backed Ali but reversed the decision after further details emerged.
Labour is now seeking two new candidates for the general election, with senior figures blaming each other for the escalating controversy. Some Labour activists fear the fallout could benefit George Galloway, the former Labour MP, who is now the favourite to win the Rochdale byelection.
