Labour’s by-election candidate in Rochdale was “completely wrong” to say Israel intentionally allowed the 7 October bloodbath to present it the “green light” to invade Gaza, the celebration’s UK marketing campaign coordinator has mentioned.
But senior shadow frontbencher Pat McFadden advised Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips confirmed Azhar Ali will nonetheless stand for the celebration when the vote takes place on 29 February.
The deadline for nominations closed on 2 February, successfully making it too late to alter.
It comes after Mr Ali’s remarks, during which he additionally mentioned Sir Keir Starmer had “lost the confidence” of his MPs over his stance on the Gaza battle, have been revealed by The Mail On Sunday newspaper.
They have been condemned by the Jewish neighborhood and MPs.
Mr McFadden mentioned “His comments were completely wrong. He should never have said something like that.
“He’s issued a whole apology and retraction and I hope he learns lesson from it as a result of he ought to by no means have mentioned one thing like that within the first place.”
Mr McFadden added: “It was wrong to say that you should never have said it, and it’s right that he is completely apologised now and he himself said it was wrong to say it and that’s the right thing to do.”
Pressed over whether or not he would stay Labour’s candidate, Mr McFadden mentioned: “Yes, he will.”
Mr Ali made his feedback at a gathering of the Lancashire Labour Party within the wake of the October atrocity, the place he claimed the Israeli authorities had eliminated its border safety to allow the Hamas assault.
He mentioned: “The Egyptians are saying that they warned Israel ten days earlier… Americans warned them a day before [that] there’s something happening… They deliberately took the security off, they allowed… that massacre that gives them the green light to do whatever they bloody want.”
After somebody prompt Sir Keir was “held in high regard”, Mr Ali replied: “Can I disagree with you… A lot of the MPs I’ve spoken to, non-Muslim MPs, feel that on this issue, he’s lost the confidence of the parliamentary party.”
After his remarks have been made public, Mr Ali mentioned in a press release: “I apologise unreservedly to the Jewish community for my comments which were deeply offensive, ignorant, and false.
“Hamas’ horrific terror assault was the accountability of Hamas alone, and they’re nonetheless holding hostages who have to be launched.
“7 October was the greatest loss of Jewish life in a single day since the Holocaust, and Jews in the UK and across the world are living in fear of rising antisemitism.
“I’ll urgently apologise to Jewish leaders for my inexcusable feedback.
“The Labour Party has changed unrecognisably under Keir Starmer’s leadership, he has my full support in delivering the change Britain needs.”
Mr Ali, a Lancashire County councillor and former authorities adviser who was made an OBE in 2020 for public service, was was chosen final month to contest the ballot, attributable to the demise of Sir Tony Lloyd.
He is defending a Labour majority of greater than 9,000 in Rochdale.
Source: information.sky.com”