Exclusive

More than 100 Muslim Labour councillors demand Keir Starmer immediately halts arms sales to Israel

18 October 2024, 08:06 | Updated: 18 October 2024, 08:14

Over 100 Muslim Labour councillors demand Keir Starmer immediately halts arms sales to Israel.
Over 100 Muslim Labour councillors demand Keir Starmer immediately halts arms sales to Israel. Picture: Alamy/Getty
Henry Riley

By Henry Riley

LBC can reveal that 114 Muslim Labour councillors have written to the Prime Minister calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

In an open letter, the cohort of elected Labour politicians call for their own party leader Sir Keir Starmer to impose "an immediate and complete suspension of arms sales to Israel".

Coordinated by the Labour Muslim Network, the letter says "we must not be complicit in these clear violations of international humanitarian law".

"It is our moral obligation to act now."

Labour minister responds: 100 Muslim Labour councillors demand Keir Stamer halts Israel arms sales

"That is why we have come together, as Councillors, as Muslims, and as Labour members to call on this Labour government to meet our moral obligation by suspending all arms sales to Israel until such a time that international humanitarian law is observed and respected".

Read more: Starmer says 'UK won't mourn death of Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar' as Biden calls for end to Gaza war

Read more: Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar who masterminded October 7 attacks confirmed dead following Israeli strike on Gaza

The cohort of elected Labour politicians are calling for their own party leader Sir Keir Starmer to impose "an immediate and complete suspension of arms sales to Israel".
The cohort of elected Labour politicians are calling for their own party leader Sir Keir Starmer to impose "an immediate and complete suspension of arms sales to Israel". Picture: Alamy
114 Muslim Labour councillors have written to the Prime Minister calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel.
114 Muslim Labour councillors have written to the Prime Minister calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel. Picture: Labour Muslim Network

Last month, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the suspension of around 30 arms export licences to Israel out of a total of approximately 350.

The move is said to have affected equipment such as parts for fighter jets, helicopters and drones, and was criticised by ministers in the Israeli government.

The list of Labour Muslim councillors includes senior figures within local authorities with local mayors, council deputy leaders as well as local cabinet members signing the letter.

Signatories include the deputy leader of Barking Council Saima Ashraf, deputy leader of Glasgow City Council Labour Soryia Siddique, as well as Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) member and Manchester councillor Yasmine Dar.

Over 100 Muslim Labour councillors are calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel.
Over 100 Muslim Labour councillors are calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel. Picture: Labour Muslim Network
Over 100 Muslim Labour councillors are calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel.
Over 100 Muslim Labour councillors are calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel. Picture: Labour Muslim Network

Similarly, the group includes the Mayor of Rochdale Shakil Ahmed and Wellington Mayor Cllr Usman Ahmed. Whilst other notable signatories are Oldham cabinet member Shaid Mushtaq, Wandsworth cabinet member Aydin Dikerdem and Birmingham cabinet member for Environment and Transport Cllr Majid Mahmood.

The news comes just days after 21 Labour MPs (including some recently suspended) backed a parliamentary motion calling on the government to end “all military exports to Israel”.

The cohort of MPs led by Richard Burgon includes Diane Abbot and former Labour Party chair Ian Lavery.

Over 100 Muslim Labour councillors are calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel.
Over 100 Muslim Labour councillors are calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel. Picture: Labour Muslim Network
Over 100 Muslim Labour councillors are calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel.
Over 100 Muslim Labour councillors are calling for an immediate arms embargo to Israel. Picture: Labour Muslim Network

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Alexandra Palace Hosts Its Annual Fireworks Display Ahead Of Bonfire Night

Bonfire night 2024 forecast: What will the weather be like for fireworks night?

Darrian Williams

Two teen boys found guilty after 16-year-old stabbed to death by masked attackers in Bristol park

Westminster Protest

'Betrayed' farmers to protest over Labour's inheritance tax raid - as Chancellor insists changes are 'fair'

Police crime scene tape UK

Six teenagers arrested after 13-year-old girl left with life-threatening injuries in East Yorkshire stabbing

Israel claims to have killed a high-ranking member of Hamas

Israel 'eliminates' one of Hamas' last high-ranking officials

Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Charles, Prince of Wales attend a Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee

King Charles 'finally cuts Prince Andrew off' as he 'axes Duke's annual £1m allowance'

Claw hammer-wielding public schoolboy who attacked sleeping students and teacher handed life sentence

Pictured: Public schoolboy, 17, who attacked sleeping students and teacher with hammers he kept 'for zombie apocalypse'

Emergency and rescue personnel work at the site where a concrete outdoor roof of a train station collapsed in the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad

Train station canopy collapses in Serbia, killing 8 people in horror accident, with more victims still trapped in rubble

The passengers was fined £48 despite their bag fitting.

Air passenger shames easyJet on TikTok after he was charged £48 for carry-on bag that fit perfectly into size checker

Gabriel Silvera and  Dragos Carabineanu

Thug kills father with one punch after being asked for a cigarette outside Tube station

File photo dated 26/07/24 of Ben Stokes. Ben Stokes and Jos Buttler, England’s Test and limited-overs captains respectively, have each signed new two-year central contracts. Issue date: Thursday October 31, 2024.

Man arrested after home of England cricket captain Ben Stokes raided by masked burglars

Claw hammer-wielding public schoolboy who attacked sleeping students and teacher handed life sentence

Hammer-wielding public schoolboy who attacked two sleeping students and a teacher named

Tube strikes have been called off

Tube strikes called off after significantly improved pay offer, union announces

Two people look out over an area affected by floods in Chiva, Spain

More than 200 confirmed dead in 'devastating' flash floods as red rain alert issued for Spanish region

Ruben Amorim has been confirmed as Manchester United's new head coach

Manchester United appoint Ruben Amorim as new head coach after sacking of Erik ten Hag

Holly Newton

Mum of murdered teen Holly Newton says CCTV was like 'horror movie' as ex-boyfriend jailed for her murder