12 February 2024 , 19:49
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Labour has withdrawn its support for a by-election candidate who suggested Israel deliberately allowed its citizens to be killed so it could invade Gaza.
Azhar Ali had apologised after a recording emerged of him claiming it had let Hamas conduct the October 7 massacre as a pretext for war. But Labour has announced it is no longer backing his campaign to become the MP for Rochdale ahead of a by-election on February 29.
A party spokesman said: "Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour Party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale by-election.
"Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognisible from the party of 2019. We understand that these are highly unusual circumstances but it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values. Given that nominations have now closed Azhar Ali cannot be replaced as the candidate."
His comments, which emerged this weekend, were made at a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party soon after the October 7 attacks.
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Mr Ali said: "The Egyptians are saying that they warned Israel ten days earlier... Americans warned them a day before [that] there's something happening... They deliberately took the security off, they allowed... that massacre that gives them the green light to do whatever they bloody want."
On the tape he also said that Mr Starmer had "lost the confidence" of Labour MPs over the party's reluctance to back a ceasefire.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews had described the remarks as "disgraceful and unforgivable".
In a statement issued at the weekend before he was removed as the candidate, Mr Ali said: “I apologise unreservedly to the Jewish community for my comments which were deeply offensive, ignorant, and false. Hamas’ horrific terror attack was the responsibility of Hamas alone, and they are still holding hostages who must be released.
"October 7 was the greatest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, and Jews in the UK and across the world are living in fear of rising antisemitism. I will urgently apologise to Jewish leaders for my inexcusable comments."
Mr Ali was selected last month to defend Labour's 9,668 majority in Rochdale, following the death of veteran MP Sir Tony Lloyd.
It is understood he has now been suspended from Labour pending a party investigation. As the deadline for nominations has already passed, Mr Ali will still appear on ballot papers as Labour's candidate. He is expected to be blocked from taking the Labour whip if he is elected.