The Labour Party has withdrawn support for its candidate in the Rochdale by-election after receiving “new information” about comments he is alleged to have made.
It is understood that Azhar Ali has also been suspended from the party pending an investigation.
A Labour Party spokesperson said: “Following new information about further comments made by Azhar Ali coming to light today, the Labour Party has withdrawn its support for Azhar Ali as our candidate in the Rochdale by-election.
“Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognisible 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.”
Politics latest: Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate
Mr Ali’s candidacy had been thrown in the spotlight after the Mail on Sunday reported that he had suggested to party activists that Israel deliberately allowed the Hamas atrocity to take place in order to give it the “green light” to invade Gaza.
Speaking to reporters after the decision was made, Labour’s national campaign co-ordinator Pat McFadden said Sir Keir had taken the “tough but necessary” decision withdraw support Mr Ali.
“When Keir Starmer became leader of the Labour Party, he said he would change the Labour Party and expect that every candidate and MP would operate to the highest standards,” he said.
“And although it is a difficult decision, today, he’s put those words into action. And unfortunately we’ve had to take this difficult decision.”
Asked what had changed in the last 24 hours since he himself defended Labour continuing to support Mr Ali, the senior MP said: “More comments have come to light which meant we had to look at this situation again.
“Once we saw those comments, Keir Starmer took [the] swift decision, took the tough but necessary action to withdraw…
