Nottinghamshire councillors quit over Labour leader's stance on Gaza

Sir Keir said Israel "has the right to defend herself" in an interview on LBC

Two Nottinghamshire councillors have resigned from the Labour Party over comments leader Sir Keir Starmer made on the Israel-Gaza conflict.

Nottingham city councillor Nadia Farhat and Gedling borough councillor Russell Whiting will now both represent their wards as independents.

The pair are part of around a dozen Labour councillors who have stood down across the country.

Sir Keir said Israel "has the right to defend herself".

Many Palestinians have fled to southern Gaza to escape bombing by Israel

He made the comments during an interview on LBC radio after Palestinian militant group Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on 7 October that killed 1,400 people.

Pressed on whether cutting off water and power supplies into Gaza would be appropriate as part of an Israeli response, he replied: "I think that Israel does have that right, it is an ongoing situation.

"Obviously everything should be done within international law, but I don't want to step away from the core principles that Israel has the right to defend herself and Hamas bears responsibility."

But speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Sir Keir's spokesman said his answer that Israel had "that right" referred only to the general right to defend itself.

He added there are "overlapping questions and answers" during the interview, and the Labour leader has been "consistent" in all his interviews that Israel should follow international law.

'The ultimate reason'

In a Facebook post, Ms Farhat, who represents Leen Valley, said she was "deeply horrified" by Sir Keir's comments, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

"The Labour Party's failure to promptly and effectively denounce the atrocities in Gaza is the ultimate reason for my decision," she said.

"It is not what I stand for, and it goes against my principles."

David Mellen, the leader of the Nottingham City Council, said: "Nadia is one of 22 new councillors who joined our authority in May's local elections and she has made a positive contribution in a short space of time.

"She is a loss to the Labour Party, but I am sure that she will continue to work for the people in Leen Valley alongside her Labour colleague."

Meanwhile, Mr Whiting, who represents Colwick, said: "The Labour Party should always be willing to stand up to injustices and call out wrongs, no matter where they take place or who is responsible.

"Politics is about compromise. But there are some things I cannot and will not compromise on."