Nottingham Labour councillors criticise Starmer's position on Gaza

Two Nottingham Labour councillors are among 150 across the country calling on Keir Starmer to shift his position on the crisis in Gaza. Recent attacks on Israel by Hamas, claiming the lives of at least 1,400 innocent people, have been met by retaliatory action by the state.

This has included withholding power and water from Gaza and when Keir Starmer was asked earlier this month whether such action was appropriate, the Labour leader replied: "I think that Israel does have that right." Labour subsequently denied that this is what Sir Keir had meant, claiming that there was an issue of "overlapping questions."

But the statement caused two Labour councillors in Nottinghamshire to resign last week. Councillor Nadia Farhat, representing the Leen Valley ward on Nottingham City Council, and Councillor Russell Whiting, representing Colwick on Gedling Borough Council, now both sit as independents.Councillor Farhat said she was "deeply horrified" by Labour's stance on the war, whilst Councillor Whiting said he could no longer support Keir Starmer to be the Prime Minister.

A letter, organised by the Labour Muslim Network, calls for the party to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This policy was also pushed by MPs including Nottingham East's Labour MP Nadia Whittome, though it did not succeed in Parliament. But the letter published on Wednesday , reads: "Every day we fail to call on the Government and the international community to push for cessation of hostilities, Gazan children and hundreds of innocent men and women pay the price." Among those signing the letter are Councillor Liaqat Ali and Councillor Salma Mumtaz, who represent the Hyson Green and Arboretum and Basford wards respectively for Labour on Nottingham City Council.

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