Sir Keir Starmer is still trying to resolve problems within the Labor Party over his comments on the Gaza Strip, as more advisers resign and complaints surface about his communication style.
A ninth Labor councilor is reported to have left Oxford City Council, meaning the party has lost overall control and is now reduced to a minority leadership with 25 of 48 councillors.
said Council President Susan Brown Oxford Post that councilor Barbara Coyne said she wanted to vote with Labour, but the Labor Party’s reduction to a minority on the council shows how the crisis could worsen for the Labor leader.
I We’re told several city councilors in the northeast are also preparing to resign in protest over his comments on the Gaza Strip.
The Labor Party leader has been criticized by members, councilors and MPs for failing to call for a ceasefire in the region and instead backing the UK and US governments in supporting a “humanitarian pause”.
More than 20 Labor councilors across England have already resigned in protest.
In response to the resignation and concerns, Sir Keir issued a statement on Wednesday reaffirming his commitment to a two-state solution and criticizing the “grossly insufficient” level of aid for the Gaza Strip.
However, the source said Sir Keir’s statement did not allay concerns as it did not specifically call for a ceasefire.
They said there were local leaders in the north-east who were “seriously considering resigning”.
The source added that there had long been concerns about the party’s perceived failure to deal with Islamophobia and that the dispute could be the last straw for some Muslim members.
Another party insider said Sir Keir’s statement may have been enough to prevent MPs from revolting.
However, they pointed to a recent Muslim Census survey which showed the party was losing support among the Muslim community, arguing that this proved the “underlying problem remains enormous”.
Jamie Driscoll, the former Labor mayor of North of Tyne who is now an independent after being banned from standing for the party, called on Sir Keir to “show leadership” and support the ceasefire.
He said I: “People are wondering why the former human rights lawyer is so afraid to tell the truth about what’s happening in the Middle East.”
“We can accept the objective fact that bombs are being dropped on civilians. The UN called for a ceasefire.
“Sir Keir must stop allowing focus groups to dictate policy and show leadership because we are getting very little from the Conservative government.”
Sir Keir met with Muslim Labor MPs on Wednesday to reassure them after they raised concerns about the party’s position on the Israel-Hamas conflict, particularly in an interview Sir Keir gave on LBC in which he apparently implied that Israel was justified in cutting off water and water supplies. Power in Gaza.
The Labor Party leader later clarified that he meant that Israel has the “right of self-defense” and called for humanitarian aid to be allowed into the region.
Sources said Sir Keir listened to concerns during a meeting on Wednesday but did not concede to the main demand for a ceasefire.
He also did not apologize for his comments on LBC radio, which insiders said led to a “cold reception” from MPs.
Sources said the meeting “made clear the level of anger among voters” and some even read out letters they had received.
Party insiders have complained that a trend has emerged of the party leader’s office failing to appoint a poorly managed communications director.
“This is too bad, I don’t understand why they didn’t sort out their messages before going on the LBC interview,” one said. “Everything is the same as before.”
HuffPost reported that Labor MPs had been given security advice as tensions grew over the issue, and group leader Alan Campbell wrote that he acknowledged “increased security concerns” due to “recent events”.
Earlier this week, more than 150 Muslim Labor Party councilors wrote to Sir Keir urging the party leadership to call for an immediate ceasefire in the region. Some have already announced their resignation.
In a statement on Wednesday, Sir Keir said: “It is clear that the volume of aid and relief supplies entering Gaza is completely insufficient to meet the humanitarian needs on the ground,” the statement said.
“That is why we have repeatedly stated that aid, fuel, water, electricity and medicine must be urgently increased, both through funds that can flow through the Rafah border crossing and through reductions in Israeli-controlled supplies.”
“The challenge for all parties is to ensure that aid and supplies don’t just flow, but reach those who need them. That is why we said that deliveries must be regular, fast and safe. We welcome [US] secretary [of state Antony] Blinken’s comments last night and we support humanitarian breaks.