Analysis: Rochdale row shows Starmer still has battles to win

Eradicating antisemitism from the Labour Party has always been a central pledge for Keir Starmer's leadership.

It's only because he has been so ruthless that he was able to draw on the support of the Jewish Labour Movement and former MP Louise Ellman for support as crucial voices in his ill-fated quest to retain a Labour seat in Rochdale.

Now he says he's acted decisively, as Azhar Ali is ditched as the Labour candidate in the forthcoming by-election.

But the recording of a meeting of Labour members, including Mr Ali, which prompted this crisis for Labour points to wider issues.

Firstly, how commonplace are the views heard within the clips released by the Daily Mail?

At an informal meeting of local Labour members and some councillors, Mr Ali's antisemitic comment appears to go unchallenged, at least in the moment.

• Starmer insists he was decisive on Rochdale candidate

• All the candidates in the Rochdale by-election

• Why will Azhar Ali appear on by-election ballot?

The apparent existence of bystanders is a concern to some people in the Jewish community, even if Sir Keir has now taken what he describes as "virtually unprecedented" action to withdraw support in the way he has done.

"Any allegation that needs to be investigated will be investigated," he has said, but it has taken almost four months for this recording to emerge.

And at the same time as cementing the gains the party has won with the Jewish community, how do you win back the trust that some Labour MPs admit they have lost among British Muslims?

The very fact this meeting happened, albeit back in October, serves to highlight dissatisfaction among some Labour members and Muslim voters with the way the party has handled its response to the Israel-Gaza war.

In Azhar Ali the party hoped they had a candidate who would be able to prove that Labour could win despite the criticism, in a constituency with an above average Muslim population.

The party has already lost in Rochdale, but Keir Starmer still has a battle to win.

Ever since day one he has been working to "tear out [antisemitism] by its roots".

But roots can be deceptively hard work to remove.