19 February 2024 , 10:58
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Labour frontbencher Wes Streeting has suggested voters in Rochdale could spoil their ballot papers after Labour binned its candidate.
The Shadow Health Secretary said the party had "no option" but to withdraw support for Azhar Ali, even though it leaves the constituency without a Labour candidate. Mr Ali sparked anger when he suggested Israel allowed the Hamas attack on October 7 to go ahead as a pretext for war. He was later suspended after further comments came to light revealing he'd hit out at media figures "from certain Jewish quarters".
Mr Streeting said that if he was a Rochdale voter at the by-election on February 29, he would spoil his own ballot paper. Asked if he would stay at home rather than vote for a candidate he didn't support, he told Sky News: "I don't think I would be casting a ballot, I'd probably go along and spoil my ballot if I lived in Rochdale. And I'm really sorry we put people in that position.
"I think Keir rightly took the decision that even though nominations had closed and we couldn't remove Azhar Ali from the ballot paper, what he said was so unacceptable that we just said we can't give him our backing. All I can say to the people of Rochdale is I'm sorry and Labour's going to give you a better candidate and a better option at the general election."
Labour has withdrawn its support for Rochdale candidate Azhar AliPressed whether he would encourage people to spoil their ballot papers, he said: "I think that would be one option but voters can make their own minds up." Mr Streeting went on: "I think looking at the range of candidates they're not being spoiled with choice."
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He continued: "I feel really sorry and ashamed that Rochdale voters have been left in this position." Mr Streeting also told ITV's Good Morning Britain: "I'm not going to pretend that this has been Labour's finest hour. We've got people going to the polls in Rochdale who don't have a good Labour candidate to vote for. I'm really sorry that's the case - I think it's an appalling position to be in.
"But what I wouldn't want is for Labour to stand by someone who's peddled antisemitic conspiracy theories, and that's why Keir's taken this unprecedented action."
Labour originally stood by Mr Ali after he apologised for claiming Israel let Hamas carry out the October 7 attacks as a pretext for war. In a recording obtained by the Mail, Mr Ali said Labour MP Andy McDonald "shouldn't have been suspended" for using the controversial phrase "from the river to the sea".
Mr Starmer, speaking while campaigning in Wellingborough today, said: "I took decisive action it is a huge thing to withdraw support for a Labour candidate during the course of a by-election, it's a tough decision but a necessary decision." Asked if others who were present at the October meeting where Mr Ali made the remarks could face action, he said a "full investigation" would take place.
Pressed on who he would recommend voters in Rochdale support in the upcoming by-election he said: "Voters in Rochdale will have to determine who they vote for but I'm not prepared to put forward a Labour candidate unless I think that candidate is fit to be a Labour MP."