Palestinian walk away after Israeli air strike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, November 7, 2023
THREE councillors in the north London borough of Haringey have formed an independent socialist group on the council after quitting Labour over Sir Keir Starmer’s backing for Israeli war crimes and his opposition to a Gaza ceasefire.
The three — Mark Blake, Lotte Collet and Mary Mason — also cite the suspension of Jeremy Corbyn, Sir Keir’s abandonment of his progressive leadership election pledges and local party gerrymandering as reasons for leaving Labour.
Their founding statement condemns Sir Keir for his “unequivocal support for Israeli action in Gaza” and his backing for the denial of food, water and fuel to besieged Palestinians.
The electoral cost of Labour’s stance on Gaza is impossible to ignore – the new leadership must take heed, argues PETER LEARY
Israeli media awash with leaks and rumours of Netanyahu’s plans to seize Gaza. Meanwhile, the unrelenting siege of Gaza continues unabated
Sir Keir faces backlash for continuing to enable the genocide in Gaza
‘People up and down the country are asking whose side is the Labour government on and coming up with the answer: not workers,’ Unite general secretary Sharon Graham says