Latest editorial
Newcastle's first non-white Lord Mayor quits Labour over Gaza stance
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaking during the Labour and Civil Society Summit at St John's church in Waterloo, south London, January 22, 2024
LABOUR’S grassroots rebellion against Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to support a ceasefire in Gaza mounted today after a former lord mayor of Newcastle quit the party in protest.
In a blistering attack, councillor Habib Rahman, who became Newcastle’s first non-white lord mayor in 2021, accused Mr Starmer of “advocating for the decimation of the Palestinian people” in his support for Israel.
He joins more than 30 Labour councillors who have quit the party over the leader’s stance.
Similar stories
As Israel breaks ceasefire with air strikes on Gaza, killing 400, and ministers backtrack on acknowledging Israeli war crimes, campaigners ask ‘how many more Palestinians will be slaughtered before Britain stops sending arms to Israel?’
Urgent divestment call for local authority schemes