Rochdale by-election: Labour acquired ‘new info’ about Azhar Ali earlier than withdrawing assist

The Labour Party has withdrawn assist for its candidate within the Rochdale by-election after receiving “new information” about feedback he’s alleged to have made.

It is known that Azhar Ali has additionally been suspended from the social gathering pending an investigation.

A Labour Party spokesperson mentioned: “Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour Party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale by-election.

“Keir Starmer has modified Labour in order that it’s unrecognisible from the social gathering of 2019.

“We perceive that these are extremely uncommon circumstances however it is important that any candidate put ahead by Labour absolutely represents its goals and values.

“Given that nominations have now closed Azhar Ali cannot be replaced as the candidate.”

Politics newest: Labour withdraws assist for Rochdale candidate

Mr Ali’s candidacy had been thrown within the highlight after the Mail on Sunday reported that he had urged to social gathering activists that Israel intentionally allowed the Hamas atrocity to happen with a purpose to give it the “green light” to invade Gaza.

Speaking to reporters after the choice was made, Labour’s nationwide marketing campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden mentioned Sir Keir had taken the “tough but necessary” resolution withdraw assist Mr Ali.

“When Keir Starmer became leader of the Labour Party, he said he would change the Labour Party and expect that every candidate and MP would operate to the highest standards,” he mentioned.

“And although it is a difficult decision, today, he’s put those words into action. And unfortunately we’ve had to take this difficult decision.”

Asked what had modified within the final 24 hours since he himself defended Labour persevering with to assist Mr Ali, the senior MP mentioned: “More comments have come to light which meant we had to look at this situation again.

“Once we noticed these feedback, Keir Starmer took [the] swift resolution, took the powerful however crucial motion to withdraw assist for Mr Ali’s candidacy.”

However, Mr McFadden would not say what this “new info” is, adding: “This was a tough resolution, but it surely’s the correct factor to do.”

Rochdale fiasco an unmitigated catastrophe for Labour and Sir Keir’s worst disaster as chief

Jon Craig

Chief political correspondent

@joncraig

The sacking of Azhar Ali as Labour’s candidate within the Rochdale by-election is the most important catastrophe for Sir Keir Starmer in almost 4 years as Labour chief.

There will now be an almighty inquest into how a candidate who had made such feedback about Israel and Gaza was chosen for such a high-profile by-election.

Defending Rochdale was by no means going to be straightforward for Labour. Sir Tony Lloyd’s majority on the 2019 normal election was 9,668, with the Conservatives in second place.

But the problem from firebrand left-winger George Galloway and the constituency’s former Labour MP Simon Danczuk standing for Reform UK already introduced difficulties.

But now Labour goes into the by-election on 29 February, with no candidate, despite the fact that Mr Ali’s identify will nonetheless be on the poll paper, proper on the prime of the record in alphabetical order.

Why was he chosen? Not surprisingly, as occurs in lots of constituencies with a big ethnic minority inhabitants, the native Asian neighborhood may have wished one in every of their very own to characterize them.

Mr Ali confronted a robust problem, nevertheless from political journalist Paul Waugh, who was seen as the popular selection of Sir Keir and the Labour management. It was one thing of a shock when he wasn’t chosen.

Mr McFadden rejected recommendations Labour had let the Jewish neighborhood down, saying Sir Keir’s resolution was testimony to his pledge to “root antisemitism out of the Labour Party”.

“Tonight the decision he has taken is evidence that he is sticking by that, no matter what the circumstances.”

Today Sky News reported that Labour had acquired an official criticism in regards to the feedback from the marketing campaign group Labour Against Antisemitism (LAAS), which branded the remarks “antisemitic”.

LAAS, a marketing campaign group based by Labour members to fight antisemitism throughout the social gathering, earlier at present known as for Mr Ali’s quick suspension as a candidate and social gathering member.

Alex Hearn, who’s a director of the marketing campaign group and member of the Labour Party, submitted a proper criticism towards Mr Ali this afternoon wherein he wrote: “The accusation that Jews plotted a massacre of innocent people for their own bloodthirsty gain is antisemitic.”

Mr Ali had earlier issued an “unreserved” apology for the “deeply offensive, ignorant and false” feedback.

Although Labour has withdrawn its assist for Mr Ali, it’s understood he’ll nonetheless seem on the poll paper within the by-election because the social gathering’s candidate.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak instantly seized on the developments in Rochdale to additional his accusation that Sir Keir has “no principles at all”.

“Keir Starmer has been running around for the last year trying to tell everybody ‘OK, Labour Party’s changed’,” he mentioned.

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“Well, look what just happened in Rochdale, a candidate saying the most vile conspiracy theories, antisemitic, and what happened?

“He’s stood by and despatched cupboard ministers to assist him, till actually 5 minutes earlier than I walked on tonight, underneath monumental media strain, has determined to vary his thoughts on precept. No rules in any respect.

“So no the Labour Party hasn’t changed. It’s a con.”

The Jewish Labour Movement assertion mentioned the social gathering was “right to cease campaigning” for Mr Ali.

“As he cannot be removed from the ballot, we believe it is correct that he will not sit as a Labour MP if elected.”