A LABOUR frontbencher insisted today that it would be “unfair” to conclude that there was a problem with the party in Rochdale following remarks about Israel made by its constituency candidate.

Nick Thomas-Symonds became the latest Labour shadow minister to defend Azhar Ali, who said Israel had allowed Hamas to inflict its October 7 attack despite its intelligence showing it was imminent, saying he had fallen “for an online conspiracy theory.”

In the past, the party has been quick to suspend MPs for making pro-Palestinian comments, one example being Kate Osamor, who said Gaza victims of genocide should also be remembered on Holocaust Memorial Day.