‘It’s shambolic,’ Keir Starmer slammed over Rochdale by-election anti-Semitism row by lawyer who led party review

SIR Keir Starmer’s handling of the Rochdale by-election row has been “shambolic”, a top lawyer who led a party review says.

Martin Forde says MPs within the party believe there appears to be a “disparity” in the treatment of anti-Semitism allegations.

The party withdrew its support for Azhar Ali after new allegations came to light that he blamed people in the media for fuelling criticism of a pro-Palestinian MP.

Sir Keir said today while on the campaign trail that his party had “changed” after taking “tough” and “decisive” action.

But Forde led a probe that found different wings of the party had used anti-Semitism as a factional weapon under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn.

He said: “I’m aware from discussions with some of the MPs within the party – who might be described as left-leaning – that they feel that when it comes to disciplinary action taken against them then things move rather slowly.

“But if you’re in the right faction of the party, as it were, then things are dealt with either more leniently or more swiftly.

He told the BBC: “If you want a fair and transparent system then it has to deal with people consistently.”

He added: “One does have to question how such individuals are selected in the first place, and also the disparity in treatment, because one of the things that concerned us when we talked about weaponisation was certainly the perception that antisemitism was along factional lines.”

It comes after veteral MP Diane Abbott had the whip withdrawn after claims Jewish, Irish and Traveller people are not subject to racism “all their lives”.

Kate Osamor apologised after she was suspended as she appeared to say the Gaza war should be remembered as genocide on Holocaust Memorial Day.

The secret recording of Azhar Ali emerged on Saturday evening and the party stood by him until he was suspended until Monday evening.

One shadow Minister said Ali had fallen for an online conspiracy theory.

The Ali episode follows the u-turn on the £28 billion green energy plan which the party stood by until last week despite weeks of speculation.

Lord Hague, former party leader, said: “It’s yet another U-turn. Like last week, Keir Starmer’s got so many U-turns, he’s really going around in circles.”

Sir Keir Starmer had claimed Labour had changed under his leadership. Rishi Sunak used an event in County Durham on Monday night to say this was “a con”.

Mr Ali allegedly blamed “people in the media from certain Jewish quarters” for the suspension of Andy McDonald from Labour.
He also said Israel had planned to “get rid” of Palestinians from Gaza and then “grab” some of the land.

He also boasted about stopping Israel flags flying from public buildings after the October 7 massacre.

Sir Keir, out campaigning ahead of Thursday’s by-election in Wellingborough on Thursday, said: “Certain information came to light over the weekend in relation to the candidate.

“There was a fulsome apology. Further information came to light yesterday calling for decisive action, so I took decisive action.

“It is a huge thing to withdraw support for a Labour candidate during the course of a by-election.

“It’s a tough decision, a necessary decision, but when I say the Labour Party has changed under my leadership I mean it.”

A spokesperson for the party earlier said: “Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognisable from the party of 2019.

“We understand that these are highly unusual circumstances, but it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values.

“Given that nominations have now closed, Azhar Ali cannot be replaced as the candidate.”