Cambridge Councillor quits over Labour's stance on Israel-Palestine conflict
She's accused the party leader of “encouraging collective punishment towards the Palestinian people"
A Cambridge councillor has quit the Labour Party after Keir Starmer's comments on the Israel and Gaza conflict.
Councillor Mairéad Healy, who represents the Romsey ward at Cambridge City Council, said she had made the decision to resign the Labour Party whip after “much soul searching and tears”.
In a statement to her Facebook page this week (18/10) she said the national party no longer reflected her values under Mr Starmer’s leadership.
Cllr Healy said she has also resigned her position as the executive councillor for communities, but said she would continue to represent the Romsey ward as an independent councillor.
Cllr Healy said: “In recent times, it has become increasingly unconscionable to remain in a party which has lurched so far to the right, that it is hard to distinguish itself as a party of genuine opposition.
“From refusing to support removing the two-child benefits cap, to failing to support trade unions, nor standing up for asylum seekers, back tracking on climate action, and failing to hold the government to account on the cost-of-living crisis where seriously vulnerable people are encountering unimaginable hardship, with one in four children right now going to bed hungry in this country.”
Cllr Healy said the “final straw” for her was comments made by the national party leadership regarding the Israel and Gaza conflict.
Mr Starmer has previously said Israel has the “right to defend itself” and “take action in relation to the ongoing hostage situation”.
He has said “everything should be done in accordance with international law”, but said Hamas “bears responsibility for what is happening”.
Cllr Healy accused the party leadership of “encouraging collective punishment towards the Palestinian people by condoning the indiscriminate withholding of water and energy supplies in Gaza”, which she said was illegal under international law.
She also said the national leadership had issued instructions to elected representatives to not attend Palestinian solidarity rallies last weekend, which she said she thought was “disgraceful and wrong”.
Cllr Healy said she would continue to represent people in Romsey as an independent councillor and thanked the city Labour Party for its support over the years.
She said: “I will continue for the remainder of my term, standing up for those most disadvantaged in our city, championing local issues in Romsey and will seek to always advocate for those who need support.
“I’d like to thank our leader Mike Davey and the wonderful local group of local Labour councillors who have been such strong sources of friendship and support during my time as a Labour councillor.
“I have only the highest admiration and praise for each of my local labour colleagues across the city including my fellow Romsey councillors and Romsey labour which is full of principled and decent activists.”