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UK, Rochdale: Labor is unable to field a new candidate for the by-election following the suspension of Azhar Ali
Photo: Peter Byrne / dpa
Just two and a half weeks before the vote, the British Labor Party withdrew support from its constituency candidate because of his anti-Israel statements. This was reported by the British media on Monday evening, citing a spokesman for the opposition party. Azhar Ali was due to run for the Social Democrats in the by-election in Rochdale, northern England, on Thursday and was considered a promising candidate. Since all necessary deadlines have passed, Ali can no longer be replaced. The media said he had been suspended from the party.
Conspiracy theories surrounding October 7th
As recently became known, the politician said at an event in the fall of 2023 that Israel had deliberately withdrawn its troops from the border with the Gaza Strip and allowed the Islamist Hamas to attack in order to have an excuse to take action against the terrorist organization. Ali immediately apologized and was initially defended by Labor. It was said that he had bought into a conspiracy theory. Now a party spokesman said new information had come to light - that's why Labor had stopped supporting it. He initially did not give any details.
The case is seen as a setback for party leader Keir Starmer, who always emphasizes that he has significantly changed Labor. Critics say anti-Semitism was a significant problem under his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn. Many members still feel close ties to the Palestinians.
The Rochdale constituency is considered a safe Labor seat. The by-election on February 29th was necessary after incumbent Tony Lloyd died on January 17th. A new parliament is to be elected in Great Britain this year. Labor is well ahead of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's Conservative Party in all polls.
lph/dpa