Claire Fox has hit out at the “cynical” timing of Keir Starmer’s message calling for more action on Islamophobia in Britain.
The Labour leader marked Islamophobia Awareness Month by hitting out at the “devastating” surge in discrimination against Muslims.
He pledged to “tackle religious discrimination” in a video message that has been criticised as a result of its timing.
Starmer chose to address the issue as cultural tensions are played out in the streets of Britain, with pro-Palestine demonstrations taking place en masse.
Claire Fox hit out at Keir Starmer's 'cynical' message
X / GB NEWS
Speaking on GB News, Baroness Fox hit out at Starmer as he addressed the issue at a time where “anti-Jewish hatred” is “being normalised”.
“At a time where we’re seeing genuine racism on the streets of the UK in relation to anti-Semitism, up pops Keir Starmer to say the big issue is the massive rise in Islamophobia”, she said.
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“It just comes over as cynical. It comes over as the worst kind of identity politics trying to somehow keep in with the Muslim voters.
“By the way, the majority of Muslim voters are not anti-Semites. This is ‘one day, I’ll talk to the Muslim voters and say they’re the victims of hate, then maybe the next day I’ll go and talk to the Jewish people and say they’re the victims of hate.
“Then no doubt it will be the trans community tomorrow.
“This is not appealing to people beyond their ethnicity or their religion. It’s not grown up politics.
Starmer has held firm on his Israel stance
PA“It’s cynical and it really turned my stomach.”
Fox added that she feels Starmer deserves credit for holding firm on his stance of not calling for a ceasefire as the Hamas-Israel conflict is carried out.
The Labour leader is dealing with discontent in his Labour Party with many councillors and MPs calling for a change in stance on the matter.
More than 60 Labour MPs have called for a ceasefire, but Starmer insisted his stance of calling for a humanitarian pause was “the only credible approach”.
He said a pause would allow aid to get into Gaza and give opportunity for hostages to leave.
Mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham are among those within the Labour Party calling for a ceasefire.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has also diverged from the party line on the matter.
At least 250 councillors have called for a ceasefire, with 30 resigning as a result of the party’s leadership.