COUNCILLORS and officials who quit the Labour party over comments made by Keir Starmer on the Israel-Hamas conflict have accused him of “gaslighting” in a scathing direct letter.
The group – which includes 10 councillors and one ex-Young Labour BME [black and minority ethnic] rep – said they were forced to resign from the party following their leader’s “horrific and dehumanising rhetoric” in “accepting Israel’s right to carry out collective punishment”.
The letter published by LabourList accuses Starmer of “doubl[ing] down and gaslight[ing] us and all those who heard you say what you now deny about collective punishment in Gaza”.
The signatories also accuse the UK Labour leader of framing his comments as “only a concern for Muslims” which they argue was “divisive and an attempt to minimise the global call from people for a ceasefire, the end of the Israeli occupation and the creation of a safe, secure homeland for the Palestinian people”.
They called on Starmer to “openly demand Israel immediately stops its military bombardment of Gaza”, call for an “immediate” ceasefire across the Gaza Strip and call for a “fully independent investigation” into the blast at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.
The letter continued: “Not every Labour councillor, elected official or members who resigned are Muslims – we are a growing number of people of all backgrounds who proudly stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and demand you as leader of the Labour Party speak and act in accordance with international law.”
Labour national executive committee member and We Believe in Israel director Luke Akehurst argued criticism was overblown and warned the authors’ call for a ceasefire risked Hamas building up for further future attacks.
Starmer was forced to clarify remarks he made about Israel’s decision to limit supplies to Gaza this week.
On LBC radio he appeared to suggest Israel has the right to cut off power and water to Gaza. Asked if that was appropriate, he said: “I think that Israel does have that right.”
I wonder what makes them think The English party leader gives a flying f*ck about their resignations and their reasons?
Time has proven that all London based parties couldn’t care less about anything except keeping their inflated salaries going into the bank.
>They called on Starmer to “openly demand Israel immediately stops its military bombardment of Gaza”, call for an “immediate” ceasefire across the Gaza Strip and call for a “fully independent investigation” into the blast at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.
He must resign if he won’t do this, and I believe he can’t.
Noticed that him, as well as other leaders, except Rishi, have been backpeddling a bit and are now ( reluctantly ) mentioning restraint against Gaza.
Not one of them took into consideration the level of demonstrations and weight of voices that are horrified that western leaders have been queuing up to pat on the back Netanyahu, a man cut from the same cloth as Assad of Syria and his insistence on mass murder for ambition and control.
Now they all are staring out the office window oblivious as to why the world isn’t falling for the them and us rhetoric.
It’s bullshit that not one of them understood that we weren’t going to get our popcorn out to watch kids being murdered by the dozen every night in high definition 4D clarity.
The talk of ” war ” when it isn’t anything like that in a one sided slaughter, the talk of ” keeping casualties low ” and its ” necessity ” and the general par for the course hand wringing and shoulder shrugging at it all needs to be remembered when these indifferent cunts speak on any subject.
After all, being so indifferent to bairns being slaughtered nightly, speaks volumes about their concern for us and our families futures.
Okay can people chill with the use of the word gaslighting, not taking issue with their point or really anything else they said but people are taking the piss now
A tory.
He is really leaning into that Sir Kid Starver thing isn’t he?
Starmer always said they have a right to defend themselves as long as they stick to the law
People getting upset about this are just being daft
8 comments
COUNCILLORS and officials who quit the Labour party over comments made by Keir Starmer on the Israel-Hamas conflict have accused him of “gaslighting” in a scathing direct letter.
The group – which includes 10 councillors and one ex-Young Labour BME [black and minority ethnic] rep – said they were forced to resign from the party following their leader’s “horrific and dehumanising rhetoric” in “accepting Israel’s right to carry out collective punishment”.
The letter published by LabourList accuses Starmer of “doubl[ing] down and gaslight[ing] us and all those who heard you say what you now deny about collective punishment in Gaza”.
The signatories also accuse the UK Labour leader of framing his comments as “only a concern for Muslims” which they argue was “divisive and an attempt to minimise the global call from people for a ceasefire, the end of the Israeli occupation and the creation of a safe, secure homeland for the Palestinian people”.
They called on Starmer to “openly demand Israel immediately stops its military bombardment of Gaza”, call for an “immediate” ceasefire across the Gaza Strip and call for a “fully independent investigation” into the blast at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.
The letter continued: “Not every Labour councillor, elected official or members who resigned are Muslims – we are a growing number of people of all backgrounds who proudly stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and demand you as leader of the Labour Party speak and act in accordance with international law.”
Labour national executive committee member and We Believe in Israel director Luke Akehurst argued criticism was overblown and warned the authors’ call for a ceasefire risked Hamas building up for further future attacks.
Starmer was forced to clarify remarks he made about Israel’s decision to limit supplies to Gaza this week.
On LBC radio he appeared to suggest Israel has the right to cut off power and water to Gaza. Asked if that was appropriate, he said: “I think that Israel does have that right.”
I wonder what makes them think The English party leader gives a flying f*ck about their resignations and their reasons?
Time has proven that all London based parties couldn’t care less about anything except keeping their inflated salaries going into the bank.
>They called on Starmer to “openly demand Israel immediately stops its military bombardment of Gaza”, call for an “immediate” ceasefire across the Gaza Strip and call for a “fully independent investigation” into the blast at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza.
He must resign if he won’t do this, and I believe he can’t.
Noticed that him, as well as other leaders, except Rishi, have been backpeddling a bit and are now ( reluctantly ) mentioning restraint against Gaza.
Not one of them took into consideration the level of demonstrations and weight of voices that are horrified that western leaders have been queuing up to pat on the back Netanyahu, a man cut from the same cloth as Assad of Syria and his insistence on mass murder for ambition and control.
Now they all are staring out the office window oblivious as to why the world isn’t falling for the them and us rhetoric.
It’s bullshit that not one of them understood that we weren’t going to get our popcorn out to watch kids being murdered by the dozen every night in high definition 4D clarity.
The talk of ” war ” when it isn’t anything like that in a one sided slaughter, the talk of ” keeping casualties low ” and its ” necessity ” and the general par for the course hand wringing and shoulder shrugging at it all needs to be remembered when these indifferent cunts speak on any subject.
After all, being so indifferent to bairns being slaughtered nightly, speaks volumes about their concern for us and our families futures.
Okay can people chill with the use of the word gaslighting, not taking issue with their point or really anything else they said but people are taking the piss now
A tory.
He is really leaning into that Sir Kid Starver thing isn’t he?
Starmer always said they have a right to defend themselves as long as they stick to the law
People getting upset about this are just being daft