Labour calls MORE crisis talks as party 'haemorrhages voters' after Keir Starmer slammed for 'endorsing war crimes'
Sir Keir Starmer is in further crisis talks following a swathe of resignations from his councillors, as Labour is said to be "haemorrhaging voters" as a result of its stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict.
The Labour leader, alongside his deputy Angela Rayner, will meet with Muslim MPs in order to abate concerns that the party is turning its back on Palestine.
But despite attempts to fix the relationship, one source has warned that it is already terminal.
In an attempt to distance himself from Jeremy Corbyn, Starmer has taken a firm pro-Israel stance in the wakes of the attacks from terror group Hamas.
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But he has been accused of "endorsing war crimes" after he backed Israel's right to defend itself, seemingly suggesting it would be acceptable for them to withhold food and water from Gaza.
Amna Abdullatif - the first Arab Muslim woman elected to Manchester City Council - resigned from the party last week, accusing the Labour leader of making "horrifying comments" about Palestine in an interview with LBC.
The controversial interview saw Starmer say that "Israel has the right" to withhold power and water from Palestinian civilians.
But he added: "Obviously, everything should be done within international law".
Since the interview, a number of senior Labour figures - including Starmer himself - have made it clear they want Israel to act in line with international law, calling for the country to allow humanitarian aid into the war-torn region.
But the crisis is taking its toll on the party, with one Labour MP telling Politico they have received 1,000 emails from constituents, the majority of whom are not Muslim voters.
Another said Starmer approach tot he conflict is "infuriating a lot of people”.
Meanwhile, a shadow minister said: "It’s united MPs on the left, right and centre of the party … There’s no recognition that we are haemorrhaging Muslim votes massively, enough to lose seats if there was an election tomorrow."
Speaking about today's meeting, taking place at lunchtime, a source told the Times: "They don’t want words but action… the relationship is becoming terminal."
Shaista Aziz and Dr Amar Latif - both councillors in Oxford - quit the party earlier this month as a result of Starmer's stance on Palestine.
Speaking to the Oxford Mail, Aziz said: "Like all decent-minded people, we are devastated by the atrocities carried out by Hamas in Israel.
"However, we are appalled by the words of Keir Starmer."
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She said that an invasion of Gaza by Israel "contravenes international law", adding: "We believe that politicians need to be evoking humanity and calling for an end to collective punishment in Gaza."
Having served as a councillor since 2018, she said she feels "great sadness" at leaving the party.
Lubaba Khalid, who worked as a Young Labour BAME (black and minority ethnic) officer, also handed in her resignation last week.
David Lammy and Sir Keir Starmer met with council leaders, who are said to have demanded the Labour leader rows back on previous interview comments about potential war crimes in Gaz
PA
As part of an attempt to stop the swathe of resignations, Labour called the first round of urgent crisis talks last week, as the party was said to be braced for further resignations over its messaging on Israel.
David Lammy and Sir Keir Starmer met with council leaders, who are said to have demanded the Labour leader rows back on previous interview comments about potential war crimes in Gaza, instead taking a firmer stance on condemning war crimes.
The meeting is also said to have seen Labour councillors demand that they be allowed to attend pro-Palestine demonstrations.