[ad_1]
Labor has condemned a “racist” comment provided by an unnamed party source to the BBC after losing support in heavily Muslim areas.
The source told the BBC they believe the West Midlands mayor Andy Street was on course to win as a result of “Middle East, not West Midlands” and called Hamas “the real villains”.
The comment, which was swiftly condemned by the Labor Party and MPs on Friday, comes as the London and West Midlands mayoral election results are expected. Activists warned that the party had lost ground on its position on Gaza.
“The Middle East, not the West Midlands, will win Street City Hall, again Hamas are the real villains,” the source told BBC West Midlands.
On Friday, Birmingham Labor MPs called the comment “vile racism” and said the person should be “immediately” kicked out of the party.
“Such anti-Muslim bigotry will only serve to alienate a community that has long supported Labor in its efforts to transform this country for the better,” said Tahir Ali, Labor MP for Birmingham Hall Green.
Jess Phillips, MP for Birmingham Yardley, said: “I am delighted that the Labor Party has been quick to condemn him. I think journalists should be more clear [about] the nature of the source because it could just be some complete idiot without a sign with a Labor sticker.’
Echoing their remarks on Saturday, Ellie Reeves, Labour’s deputy national campaign co-ordinator, said the language was “unacceptable” and had “racist undertones”.
“I absolutely condemn that comment, it does not represent the point of view of the Labor Party and all the values of the Labor Party,” Reeves told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. says these things.’
At the end of the first day of results, the Conservatives had suffered a net loss of 400 seats and lost control of 10 councils. But while Labor celebrated victories in places such as Blackpool, Hartlepool and Thurrock, nervousness remained over the upcoming mayoral results after the party lost support among urban and Muslim voters, including losing control of a number of Oldham council seats to pro-Palestinian independents candidates.
“If you look at some of the results, we have to be honest and say that we’ve lost some support and we have to regain trust among these Muslim communities,” Reeves said, adding that the party had called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Miran Hassan, director of the Labor Middle East Council, which works on key issues affecting the UK’s relationship with the Middle East and North Africa, said: “In our interconnected world, we cannot ignore the effects that international conflicts have on our communities, nor can we ignore the increasing influence of foreign policy on electoral outcomes.”
Keir Starmer, Labor leader, gave an interview in October, in which he said Israel had the right to deny electricity and water to Gaza. He later changed this position, but refused to answer calls for a ceasefire. Dozens of Labor MPs defied party orders and voted for the Scottish National Party motion in the House of Commons calling for a ceasefire.
The West Midlands town hall result is expected at around 3pm on Saturday as Street seeks re-election for a third term after dropped references to the Conservative Party from its campaign materials.
The results of the mayoral and London assembly elections are also due to be announced on Saturday as Labour’s Sadiq Khan battles for a third term against Tory challenger Susan Hall.
A Labor spokesman said: “The Labor Party has strongly condemned this racist quote, which does not come from someone who speaks for the party or whose values are welcome in the party.”
[ad_2]
