An MP suspended by Labour over feedback he made in regards to the Middle East battle has threatened to take authorized motion in opposition to a fellow politician over a submit he made on social media.
Andy McDonald, who represents Middlesbrough, has accused Tory MP Chris Clarkson of posting a “highly defamatory statement” about him on X in relation to feedback Mr McDonald made at a rally.
He stated he was “not prepared to stand by” whereas Mr Clarkson or others “peddle the lie” that he sought to justify Hamas’s actions on October 7.
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Mr McDonald had the Labour whip withdrawn after he used the phrase “between the river and the sea” throughout a speech on the demonstration, which a spokesman described as “deeply offensive, particularly at a time of rising antisemitism which has left Jewish people fearful for their safety”.
A slogan utilized by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, has been described as antisemitic by critics, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman claiming that it’s “widely understood” to name for the destruction of Israel.
But Mr McDonald stated his reference to the phrase was a part of a “heartfelt plea” for peace within the area.
In a submit on X, Mr Clarkson wrote: “‘Between the River and the Sea’ is a deeply sinister antisemitic trope – seeing a Labour MP use it whilst seeking to justify the murderous actions of Hamas should be shocking. Sadly, it’s barely surprising.”
Explaining why he was taking authorized motion, Mr McDonald stated: “Mr Clarkson’s assertion is very defamatory and brought on critical hurt to my repute.
“Much of what I have said in the last few days about the recent events in Israel and Palestine has been deliberately distorted and misinterpreted
“I’m greater than ready to sue anybody who thinks that it’s acceptable to publish lies about me.”
The MP said he had instructed solicitors to “take the primary steps in commencing authorized proceedings in opposition to Mr Clarkson by sending him a letter of declare for libel”.
He stated that in his October 28 speech to a mass rally, he referred to as for peace within the Israel-Gaza warfare and for “an immediate comprehensively binding ceasefire”.
Due to the continued authorized motion Mr Clarkson was unable to remark.
Sir Keir Starmer has confronted mutiny in his celebration over his place on Gaza, which has been to name for a humanitarian pause to permit extra support and assist into the area however to reject a ceasefire, which is meant to be extra long-term.
Several senior Labour figures have diverged from the official celebration line by backing a full ceasefire, together with mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham, Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar and shadow ministers Yasmin Qureshi, Jess Phillips and Imran Hussain, amongst others.
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Sir Keir was requested about Mr McDonald throughout a speech this week through which he laid out his reasoning for not supporting a ceasefire.
The Labour chief advised reporters he couldn’t “interfere” within the celebration course of however warned Labour MPs should be “extremely careful in their language.”
The suspended MP has stated he’ll totally co-operate with the investigation into his suspension and trusted “that the whip will be restored”.
Conservative MP Paul Bristow was sacked from his job as a ministerial aide on the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology after urging Rishi Sunak to again a full ceasefire.
Source: information.sky.com”