Tensions in the Labour Party have reached a boiling point, as more than 40 councillors have resigned from the party over Sir Keir Starmer's refusal to call for a ceasefire in Israel.
Over the weekend, 11 Labour councillors in Burnley - including the council leader - quit the party.
This came after a swathe of councillors stepped down from the party in the weeks following the outbreak of fighting in Israel and Palestine after the October 7 attacks on Israel by Hamas.
Councillor Afrasiab Anwar, the leader of Burnley council, last week called for Starmer to resign.
Anwar and the Burnley group issued a statement overnight saying: "It has become apparent that Keir Starmer and the leadership either cannot or will not heed our concerns or acknowledge the sentiments within our communities.
"Every life holds equal value and indiscriminate bombing and collective punishment of innocent civilians is a clear violation of international law.
"In response to our calls for him to resign he responded that the individual concerns of members are not his focus, further illustrating that he does not value the voice of the grassroots of the party."
The group added: "Regrettably, after exhausting every available option, we have arrived at the conclusion that the current party stance does not align with the values we hold dear.
"We cannot remain in a party that is not doing enough whilst innocent people are being killed in Gaza and Israel."
In a separate statement, Anwar added: "I and colleagues across Burnley over the last few weeks have seen the sad loss of people including young children in Palestine and Israel and this has to stop immediately.
"I joined the Labour Party because of the values of standing up and speaking out against injustices across the world. Sadly, Keir Starmer has not stood up for Labour values, hence why we are calling upon him to step down.
"Blindly following the position of Mr Sunak is not acceptable to us and our residents who we represent."
Starmer has faced backlash from the Muslim community over his refusal to demand a ceasefire.
Instead, the Labour leader has mirrored the Government's position in calling for "humanitarian pauses" to allow aid and supplies to reach impacted zones, and civilians to escape.
Lucy Powell, Shadow Leader of the Commons, this morning told Times Radio the party is aligned with its Labour councillors in wanting to end the "cycle of violence in the Middle East".
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Starmer has faced backlash from the Muslim community over his refusal to demand a ceasefire
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She said: "We don't want to see anyone resigning from the Labour Party, not least hard-working councillors from Burnley or elsewhere.
"But I think, on the moral issue, what we all agree on in the party is we want to see an end to this cycle of violence, an end to the needless loss of life, the hostages returned and an end to that hostage situation.
"I think also, in the Labour Party, what we do all agree on is that this cycle of violence in the Middle East that's gone on for decades… the only way we will see an end to that cycle is through a peaceful, political solution based on a two-state solution, based on a free and secure Palestine and a free and secure Israel."
