Keir Starmer has faced criticism from Labour MPs for failing to challenge a caller to his LBC radio phone-in who promoted the racist 'great replacement' conspiracy theory. The caller claimed that racial inequality now disadvantages 'indigenous people of Britain' and cited Israel's 2018 Nation State Law as a model for white British self-determination.
The caller's remarks invoked the 'great replacement' theory, which alleges that elites are using migration to make white people a minority in Europe. Starmer responded by defending the taking-the-knee gesture and stating, 'We all have those rights,' without explicitly challenging the conspiracy theory or the caller's praise for Israel's controversial law, which has been criticised by the EU and Israeli civil rights groups.
Labour MPs including Zarah Sultana, Clive Lewis, and Nadia Whittome condemned the response. Sultana said white supremacist theories 'must be called out and vigorously challenged,' while Lewis called the lack of robust challenge 'frankly appalling.' Whittome emphasised the need to 'recognise and robustly challenge white supremacy.'
The incident comes amid Labour's strained relations with minority groups. Starmer recently faced calls to return donations from a donor accused of Islamophobia, and a survey revealed declining trust among Muslim supporters. Faiza Shaheen, former Labour candidate and thinktank director, expressed dismay, saying 'it just feels like no one has our back.'
Labour later issued a statement asserting that Starmer 'completely rejects the racist conspiracy theory' and that he gave a 'robust defence' of antiracism gestures. The party stressed its commitment to 'total inclusion of Brits from all ethnic backgrounds.'
