Labour's Darren Jones insists that Keir Starmer’s planned meeting with Labour’s Muslim MPs is a “routine” event, as the party leader continues efforts to allay the backlash over his position on Israel and Gaza.
In an interview with LBC after Hamas's atrocity, Sir Keir suggested that Israel has the “right” to cut off power and water from Gaza. But, acknowledging the “distress” caused by the remarks, he subsequently sought to clarify his position, arguing that he did not mean to back the siege. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
In an interview with LBC after Hamas's atrocity, Sir Keir suggested that Israel has the “right” to cut off power and water from Gaza. But, acknowledging the “distress” caused by the remarks, he subsequently sought to clarify his position, arguing that he did not mean to back the siege. Report by Covellm. Like us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/itn and follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/itn
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 For whatever reason, an interview that Keir Starmer did with LBC at the back end of party
00:04 conference was clipped in a particular way by some people, which didn't allow for the
00:08 full answer to be heard by people that were watching that clip.
00:13 The position that Keir Starmer had in that interview, which he clarified then afterwards,
00:17 has been consistent, which is that Israel has the right to defend itself and to recover
00:22 the hostages from Hamas terrorists, but that any action should be subject to international
00:27 laws.
00:28 It's perfectly normal for Keir Starmer, as the leader of the Labour Party, I'm sure it's
00:31 the same for leaders of other parties, to meet with MPs, councillors, other parts of
00:36 their party to hear their concerns about particular issues that happens on a routine basis in
00:42 relation to lots of issues.
00:44 Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner, our deputy leader, are meeting with MPs of Muslim heritage,
00:48 but also MPs who represent Muslims in their constituencies to hear from them the concerns
00:54 that they've been hearing from their constituents about the tragic events unfolding in the country.
00:58 the Middle East and that's right and proper for Kier and Angela to listen to their concerns.