'Labour leadership fears unity starting to fray over Israeli-Hamas conflict'

19 October 2023 , 09:12

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Labour leader Keir Starmer has faced pressure from Labour councillors who have resigned in protest at his stance on Israel (Image: AFP via Getty Images)

The situation in the Middle East invites you take sides and, by doing so, demonstrate your affiliation with a certain cause.

I remember, for example, walking the streets of Belfast in the early 1990s and noticing how the kerbsides in the Unionist areas were painted in the colours of the flag of Israeli while Palestinian flags flew from the lampposts of Republican neighbourhoods.

For many in the Labour movement which side you support is a badge of identification. Those on the right of the party tend to be members of Labour Friends of Israel, those on the left are more likely to be supportive of the Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.

There is little common ground between these two groupings at the best of times but there is even less consensus when the debate is taking place against the horrors currently being witness in Israel and Gaza.

The Labour leadership is increasingly concerned that the show of party unity on display in Liverpool is starting to fray as the arguments over the Israeli-Hamas conflict become more intense. The looming ground operation by the Israelis into Gaza will only inflame tensions.

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Several councillors have already resigned in protest at Starmer’s comments in a radio interview in which he appeared to endorse Israel’s decision to cut off food, power and medical supplies to Gaza. (This is contested by team Starmer who claim he was answering a question about Israel’s right to defend itself.)

Amid claims that Labour’s support among Muslim communities is in free fall, Starmer held a meeting with Labour council leaders on Monday to reassure them about his stance. Yesterday he wrote to all Labour councillors stressing Labour’s call for immediate humanitarian access to Gaza and the need for all parties act in accordance with international law.

Labour figures are not playing down the sensitivities but they claim there is a difference between the strength of views in the party and those of the general population. But it was noticeable that Starmer’s words at Prime Minister’s questions yesterday were more nuanced than his previous remarks, with much more emphasis on the plight of those trapped in Gaza.

Jason Beattie