Lancashire councillor standing in Rochdale by-election has support withdrawn by Labour over Israel comments

A Lancashire councillor who is standing in the Rochdale by-election for Labour, has had support withdrawn by the party over comments made about Israel.

Azhar Ali, who represents Nelson East, had apologised after he was recorded suggesting in a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party that Israel had taken the October 7 Hamas assault as a pretext to invade Gaza.

But a party spokesperson said on Monday evening that Mr Ali, who is understood to be suspended pending an investigation, had Labour's backing withdrawn "following new information about further comments".

According to a story published by the Daily Mail on Monday night, Mr Ali also said "people in the media from certain Jewish quarters" were "giving crap" about MP Andy McDonald, who was suspended by Labour after he used the phrase "between the river and the sea" in a speech during a rally.

The paper also said the now-former Labour candidate claimed that Israel planned to "get rid of Palestinians from Gaza" and "grab" some of the land.

Labour had come under serious pressure after the previous remarks emerged, with the comments condemned by figures inside the party as well as by political opponents.

A spokesperson said: "Keir Starmer has changed Labour so that it is unrecognisable from the party of 2019.

"We understand that these are highly unusual circumstances, but it is vital that any candidate put forward by Labour fully represents its aims and values.

"Given that nominations have now closed, Azhar Ali cannot be replaced as the candidate."

The decision to withdraw backing for the candidate will come as a blow to the party, which had hoped to retain the seat following the death last month of sitting MP Sir Tony Lloyd.

Mr Ali, who has been a Lancashire councillor since 2013, apologised to the Jewish community and retracted his original remarks, which he described as "deeply offensive, ignorant and false".

If elected, Mr Ali will sit as an independent MP and will not receive the party whip. The decision means that Labour will also need to find a new candidate to contest the seat at the upcoming general election.