The leaders of two Labour councils in Lancashire are calling on Sir Keir Starmer to resign over his position on the conflict in the Middle East.
Council leaders in Burnley and Pendle have put pressure on the Labour leader over his decision not to push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
It follows calls from senior Labour figures London mayor Sadiq Khan, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, who broke ranks to also challenge Sir Keir’s stance.
But the party’s shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, told Sky News: “This is about what’s right for the people of Israel and Gaza. The primary focus of this is not the Labour Party.”
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The Labour leader has remained united with Rishi Sunak, the US, and most recently the EU in pushing for “humanitarian pauses” in the fighting, while supporting Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas.
Burnley council leader Afrasiab Anwar said: “I and colleagues across Burnley over the last few weeks have seen the sad loss of people including young children in Palestine and Israel and this has to stop immediately.
“I joined the Labour Party because of the values of standing up and speaking out against injustices across the world. Sadly, Keir Starmer has not stood up for Labour values, hence why we are calling upon him to step down.
“Blindly following the position of Mr Sunak is not acceptable to us and our residents who we represent.”
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Pendle council leader, Asjad Mahmood, added Sir Keir had failed to listen to Labour members, urging for him to “resign to allow someone to lead our party who has compassion and speaks out against injustice and indiscriminate killing of innocent human beings”.
Sir Keir has been holding meetings within his party to address concerns over his position, and held talks with Muslim Labour MPs in parliament on 25 October.
They urged him during the “firm” exchange to back a ceasefire, believing the British public would support the move as well.
A senior Labour MP and shadow minister told Sky News: “It’s not surprising he’s been challenged.
“Hundreds of children are dying every day in Gaza and he still can’t call for a ceasefire. There goes his prime ministership.”
But a Labour spokesperson said the party’s leadership had “unequivocally condemned the actions of the Hamas, and stressed the need to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza”.
They added: “The Palestinian people are not Hamas, and they are suffering terribly. That’s why we support humanitarian pauses so that aid, fuel, water, electricity and medicines can urgently get to those who need it.
“We also have to recognise Israel was subject to a vile terrorist attack. Israel has a right and a duty to defend itself, rescue the hostages and stop Hamas from being able to carry out that sort of terrorist attack ever again.
“Keir Starmer has been clear that in the long term there can only be a political solution to this crisis which is why we need a two-state solution of a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.”
