Manchester, UK – Labour has withdrawn their support for Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali due to controversial remarks he made regarding Israel and the Jewish media. This move comes after a recording surfaced of Mr. Ali allegedly blaming Jewish media figures for criticism against a pro-Palestinian Labour MP. The Daily Mail published the recording, prompting Mr. Ali to issue an apology to Jewish leaders for his comments.
The decision has led to a situation where there will not be a Labour candidate on the ballot, as it is too late to replace Mr. Ali. However, he still has the potential to be elected as an independent MP. This development comes after a series of controversial statements made by Mr. Ali, which have led to intense pressure on the Labour party.
The controversy began when the Mail on Sunday published comments from Mr. Ali, where he claimed that Israel had “allowed” the Hamas attack. Following widespread condemnation, Mr. Ali issued an apology “to Jewish leaders for my inexcusable comments”. However, a second recording surfaced, allegedly of Mr. Ali blaming “people in the media from certain Jewish quarters” for the suspension of another Labour Party member.
Labour’s National Campaign Coordinator, Pat McFadden, stated that Mr. Ali’s suspension came after “more comments” came to light. This decision to withdraw support for Mr. Ali has added an extra layer of uncertainty to the outcome of the by-election.
The by-election, set to take place on February 29th, will still see former Labour MP Simon Danczuk and George Galloway of the Workers Party of Britain among the candidates. The decision to withdraw support for Mr. Ali has sparked criticism and accusations from numerous political figures, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who accused Labour of succumbing to “enormous media pressure”.
The ongoing controversy highlights the ongoing tensions and challenges faced by Labour in the wake of comments related to the Israel-Palestine conflict. It also underscores the potential impact of such controversies on political candidates and their parties as they navigate the complexities of public opinion and media scrutiny.