Keir Starmer sees fragile Labour Party unity collapse over Israel – POLITICO

LONDON — Keir Starmer must have breathed a sigh of relief when the annual Labour Party conference passed off without internal strife this month, given that it came immediately after Hamas’ murderous assault on Israel.

The show of party unity did not last long.

Since the moment Hamas launched its attacks on October 7, the Labour leader has maintained a position of near-total unity with his Conservative rival, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

Both Starmer and Sunak have been consistent in condemning Hamas as terrorists and insisting on Israel’s right to defend itself, while requesting humanitarian aid for the stricken residents of Gaza. 

But as Israel’s assault on the strip intensifies, the Labour leader is facing growing calls from party members and MPs to take a stronger line and demand a ceasefire. Starmer’s refusal to do so is causing ructions within the party rarely seen in his three-and-a-half years as leader.

“It won’t last,” predicted one angry left-wing aide, granted anonymity to speak frankly. “They’re bombing the sh*t out of civilians. He’s going to end up calling for a ceasefire.”

The conflict in Gaza always had the potential to reopen faultlines in the Labour Party, given that Starmer has expended a huge amount of time and effort trying to turn the page on claims of antisemitism under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn. Restoring Labour’s shattered reputation with the Jewish community has been Starmer’s top priority as leader.

But Labour also traditionally attracts the support of large numbers of British Muslims — and non-Muslims allied with the Palestinian cause — who are desperate to see the party voice more full-throated support for Gazans.

In attempting to walk this tightrope, Starmer has angered many in his party to a degree which could cause lasting pain. 

‘Regrettable’ comments

Labour MPs from different wings of the party, granted anonymity to speak freely about internal matters, believe Starmer — who initially won praise for Labour unity in support of Israel — has latterly mishandled the situation. 

In particular, they referred to comments made by Starmer in a recent LBC radio interview, where he said Israel had a right to cut off water and electricity to Gaza. (Starmer later insisted he had been misinterpreted.)

A clip of the interview has gone viral, and has led to an outpouring of anger at the Labour leader.

One Labour MP said Starmer’s subsequent attempt to “clarify” what he meant came far too late, with his remarks now “festering” in the public domain. A second MP complained Starmer had “walked into an obvious trap” by appearing to get into the specifics of what Israel did or did not have the right to do in the name of self-defense.

A Labour aide loyal to Starmer admitted the leader’s words on LBC were “regrettable,” not least because the subsequent row has detracted from efforts to engage in cross-party diplomacy.

Activists and Labour supporters are now intensively lobbying their MPs for Labour to call out Israel, with those politicians representing large Muslim populations coming under particular pressure. MPs report receiving 500 emails or more on the subject over the last two weeks.

Three MPs said their offices had been targeted by a “relentless” blitz of phone calls last Friday coordinated by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, a longstanding pressure group — a blitz so extreme it prevented calls from ordinary constituents getting through. A PSC spokesman categorically denied any involvement. 

More than 20 British Muslim local councillors have already quit the Labour Party over its position on the crisis, while frontline figures such as West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin and shadow minister Yasmin Qureshi have stepped beyond the official party line to call for a ceasefire.

Left-wing Labour MP Richard Burgon said the U.K. should be “talking to governments of all persuasions to secure a negotiated ceasefire — one that’s binding on all parties.”

Some MPs have expressed fears that Muslim voters and others with strong pro-Palestinian sympathies could now desert them at the next election, whether by switching to smaller parties such as the Greens or simply staying at home.

Lasting damage?

Yet there is little expectation Labour will change its stance significantly in the days ahead. 

After crisis talks with Labour’s cohort of Muslim MPs and peers Wednesday, Starmer released a statement describing aid to Gaza as “completely insufficient” and calling for it to be “urgently ramped up” through the Rafah crossing and through Israel’s turning back on those utility supplies it controls.

Labour has also indicated it would back the idea of “humanitarian pauses” in fighting put forward by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday night. A second left-wing Labour aide complained this was “completely insufficient.”

A Labour spokesperson admitted the crisis was proving “a difficult time for a lot of people, with strong feelings on both sides,” adding the party “would support any initiative to get more aid in.”

What’s clear is that Starmer’s response to the conflict is proving one of the biggest tests of his leadership, as he attempts to prevent Labour from veering off the rails in the run-up to a 2024 election it is expected to win.

Some allies are encouraged he has not been swayed by internal pressures, and that he has, so far, managed to avoid all-out revolt among Labour MPs. 

But while he stops short of backing an outright ceasefire, the damage to Starmer’s standing in the eyes of his critics is unlikely to fade. 

A Labour aide on the left observed: “Anyone in the Labour leadership who thinks this will calm down should spend less time kidding themselves, and more time dealing with the deep anger there is throughout the party.”

Emilio Casalicchio contributed reporting.