Sir Keir Starmer is facing significant internal turmoil within the Labour Party as his stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict continues to draw fierce criticism from both members and parliamentarians.
The Labour leader finds himself navigating increasingly choppy political waters following his controversial comments about Israel's right to withhold power and water from Gaza. His position has sparked outrage among many within his own party who view the remarks as endorsing potential war crimes.
Mounting Pressure from Within
More than 150 Labour councillors have signed an open letter demanding Sir Keir urgently call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The growing discontent isn't limited to local representatives either - several Labour MPs have publicly broken ranks with their leader's position.
Shadow minister Rachel Hopkins joined the chorus of criticism, telling Sky News she believed Israel had "broken international law" in its response to Hamas attacks. This represents a significant challenge to party discipline from within Starmer's own frontbench team.
The LBC Interview Fallout
The current crisis stems from Sir Keir's appearance on LBC radio, where he appeared to suggest Israel had the right to cut off essential utilities to Gaza. While his team later clarified he was referring to Israel's right to self-defence, the damage had already been done.
Labour MP Zarah Sultana didn't mince words, stating: "International law is clear: collective punishment is a war crime. Cutting off food, water and power to a captive civilian population is a war crime."
Broader Political Implications
The timing couldn't be worse for the Labour leader, who until recently enjoyed consistent poll leads over Rishi Sunak's Conservatives. With a general election potentially looming next year, internal divisions over foreign policy threaten to undermine Labour's carefully crafted image of unity.
Several Labour mayors, including Andy Burnham and Sadiq Khan, have also called for a ceasefire, further highlighting the depth of disagreement within the party's senior ranks.
As the conflict continues, Sir Keir Starmer faces the delicate task of maintaining his pro-Israel stance while preventing a full-scale rebellion within his own party that could jeopardise Labour's electoral prospects.
