{"id":120488,"date":"2023-10-29T09:39:08","date_gmt":"2023-10-29T09:39:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/?p=120488"},"modified":"2023-10-29T09:39:08","modified_gmt":"2023-10-29T09:39:08","slug":"keir-starmer-sees-muslim-mps-over-gaza-stand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yourclomid.com\/politics\/keir-starmer-sees-muslim-mps-over-gaza-stand\/","title":{"rendered":"Keir Starmer sees Muslim MPs over Gaza stand"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has agreed to hold regular meetings with his Muslim MPs following an angry rebellion over his stance on the Middle East crisis.<\/p>\n

It follows a summit last week he attended alongside his deputy Angela Rayner.<\/p>\n

Sir Keir was criticised for his refusal to call for a full ceasefire and his apparent support for blocking power and water supplies to Gaza.<\/p>\n

It has led to 39 Labour MPs signing a Commons motion calling for \u201can immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities\u201d.<\/p>\n

And Khalid Mahmood, the longest-serving Muslim MP in Parliament, said: \u201cWe called for the meeting and we made our views clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt won\u2019t be the last. We have been offered regular meetings.\u201d<\/p>\n

The MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, who has repeatedly condemned Hamas and is demanding Israel end its Gaza assault, said: \u201cWhenever issues arise, we will be able to have those meetings.\u201d<\/p>\n

But Labour insiders fear the leadership\u2019s bungled response to the conflict could cost the party seats in areas with high Muslim populations such as Luton, and Bradford.<\/p>\n

READ MORE: <\/strong> Muslim MP Khalid Mahmood pledges he will make Keir Starmer listen on Gaza<\/strong><\/p>\n

At least three in Birmingham are believed to be at risk. One former Labour minister said: \u201cOf course it will make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

And a councillor prominent in Birmingham\u2019s Muslim community said: \u201cPeople are saying they won\u2019t vote Labour as long as Keir is leader. These are people in the mainstream: lawyers, teachers, law-abiding people and as British as they come.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a human rights lawyer and people say they are really disappointed he isn\u2019t standing up for international law.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even those sympathetic to Israel believe Sir Keir blundered by appearing to offer unconditional support for the embattled country\u2019s offensive.<\/p>\n

One MP, a member of Labour Friends of Israel, said: \u201cIt was a knee-jerk reaction and it was because of what happened while Jeremy Corbyn was leader.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe wanted to show he had banished anti-semitism.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the reality is that Israel always responds disproportionately. I say this as a supporter. Cutting off energy supplies to Gaza cannot be justified.\u201d<\/p>\n