Labour Suspends Second Candidate in 24 Hours Over Controversial Israel Comments
Labour Party has taken action by suspending a second election candidate within a span of 24 hours due to contentious remarks related to Israel. Graham Jones, a former MP and parliamentary candidate for Hyndburn, faced suspension after being accused of making derogatory comments about “f***ing Israel” during a meeting with party activists. The leaked recording also captured Jones suggesting that Britons fighting for Israel should be “locked up.”
Investigation Launched into Controversial Comments
Mr. Jones was called in for an interview on Tuesday evening as Labour launched an investigation into the remarks made during a meeting of activists in Lancashire. According to a recording disclosed by Guido Fawkes, Jones was questioned about the presence of British individuals in the Israel Defence Forces (IDF). In response, he emphasized the importance of abiding by the law, stating, “No British person should be fighting for any other country, at all, full stop.”
Swift Action Following Leaked Recordings
The contentious comments made by Jones came to light during the same meeting that resulted in the withdrawal of support for Rochdale by-election candidate Azhar Ali. Initially, Mr. Ali faced backlash after a leaked recording implied that Israel used the October 7 Hamas assault as an excuse to invade Gaza. Despite an initial show of support, Labour retracted its backing for Ali on Monday evening upon discovering further controversial remarks.
Keir Starmer Stands Firm on Decision
Labour leader Keir Starmer defended the party’s decision to withdraw support for the Rochdale candidate, emphasizing the importance of taking decisive action. Starmer acknowledged the difficulty of retracting support for a candidate mid-election but deemed it necessary. When questioned about potential repercussions for others present at the controversial meeting, he assured a thorough investigation would be conducted.
Response from Jewish Labour Movement
The Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) expressed satisfaction with Labour’s prompt suspension of Jones pending further investigations. Prior to his suspension, JLM condemned Jones’ comments as “appalling and unacceptable,” expressing disappointment in his involvement in the meeting where Ali’s antisemitic remarks were made. The organization criticized Jones for adding fuel to existing tensions.
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