Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Gaza: Sarwar, Khan pressure Starmer over ceasefire

Shadow ministers Yasmin Qureshi and Imran Hussain also appealed for ceasefire

Gaza: Sarwar, Khan pressure Starmer over ceasefire

TWO senior Muslim politicians in Labour have urged party leader Sir Keir Starmer to call for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Revealing the growing unrest within the opposition party over its position on the conflict, London mayor Sadiq Khan called on Friday (27) for a ceasefire in the conflict.


Scottish Labour leader, Anas Sarwar, also echoed Khan's call for a ceasefire.

On Wednesday (25), Yasmin Qureshi, the shadow minister for the equalities office, called for a ceasefire. Imran Hussain, shadow minister for the future of work, made the same appeal on Friday.

Sir Keir has been witnessing growing pressure within as 49 of the party's MPs said that they want a ceasefire.

Khan went a step beyond his party's appeals for a humanitarian pause in fighting to allow aid into the Israeli-besieged Gaza Strip.

The London mayor said he backed Israel's right to defend itself - but cautioned that a military escalation could worsen a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

"I join the international community in calling for a ceasefire. It would stop the killing and would allow vital aid supplies to reach those who need it in Gaza," Khan said in a video posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Adding pressure on Sir Keir, Sarwar also joined the call for a ceasefire.

"There have been too many innocent lives lost in Israel and Palestine. We need a ceasefire now," Sarwar, the first Muslim to lead a mainstream political party in the UK, said on X.

“We need a proper peace process, because sadly right now there is no peace and there is no process. That’s the only way we can see a safe, secure and free Palestine, and a safe, secure and free Israel."

Among the 199 current Labour MPs, 49 have either voiced their support for a ceasefire or have endorsed a Commons motion advocating for one, the Guardian reported.

Meanwhile, some Labour politicians, especially Muslim MPs and councillors, were angered by comments Sir Keir made earlier this month that were interpreted to mean he backed Israel's right to cut off power and water to Gaza.

His spokesperson later clarified that he had meant Israel had a right to defend itself, but people in Gaza needed access to water and power.

One Labour MP from the north said he received hundreds of emails in the past week from voters complaining about the way Sir Keir had handled the situation.

"The tone has been completely wrong. We look indifferent to innocent people being bombed in Gaza," the MP said.

Sir Keir, with his deputy, Angela Rayner, met more than a dozen Muslim Labour MPs on Wednesday. They expressed concerns that his stance on the conflict was causing distress within the party.

Attendees at the meeting emphasised that the disappointment extended beyond being solely a "Jewish-Muslim community issue."

Following an interview on LBC, several Labour councillors resigned from the party. Additionally, 150 other councillors co-signed a letter to Sir Keir and Rayner, requesting Labour's support for a ceasefire.

Sir Keir has also been accused of allegedly “distorting” facts regarding a meeting with Muslim leaders in Cardiff. The South Wales Islamic Centre described the meeting as tense and asserted that the Labour leader’s subsequent tweets were inaccurate.

(with inputs from Reuters)

More For You

11th UK Gatka Championship

All winners received medals and trophies

UK Parliament

11th UK Gatka Championship ends with Welsh debut and £1,000 support for Gatka Akharas

Highlights:

  • The 11th UK National Gatka Championship was hosted near Cardiff, marking the first time in Wales.
  • Winners included Roop Kaur (girls), Navjot Singh (boys), and Gurdeep Singh (men’s).
  • Gatka Federation UK awarded £1,000 to each participating Akhara to support martial arts promotion.
  • Chief guests included MP Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi and Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation.

Gatka Championship marks Welsh debut

The 11th UK National Gatka Championship concluded on a high note near Cardiff, Wales, showcasing the traditional Sikh martial art with flair. Seven leading Gatka Akharas participated, thrilling spectators with their lightning-fast strikes, precision moves and elegant techniques.

Inauguration by global leaders

The tournament was inaugurated by Harjeet Singh Grewal, President of the World Gatka Federation (WGF) and the National Gatka Association of India (NGAI). He was joined by Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi MP, President of Gatka Federation UK, alongside other dignitaries including Jagbir Singh Jagga Chakar, President of Wales Kabaddi Club, and community leaders from the Haveli Hotel Pontyclun.

Keep ReadingShow less
Vantara

The site, located in Gujarat, houses hundreds of elephants, as well as 50 bears, 160 tigers, 200 lions, 250 leopards, and 900 crocodiles. (Photo: Instagram/Vantara)

India court probe clears Ambani family’s animal centre

AN INDIAN Supreme Court-ordered investigation has cleared a large private animal facility run by the son of Asia’s richest man, rejecting allegations of wildlife violations.

Vantara, described as the “world’s biggest wild animal rescue centre,” is operated by Anant Ambani, son of Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer

Starmer, who has faced negative coverage since taking office in July 2024, defended the appointment process.

Reuters

Starmer: I would not have appointed Mandelson if aware of Epstein ties

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer said on Monday he would not have appointed Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to Washington had he known the extent of his links with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

This was Starmer’s first public statement since dismissing Mandelson last week. The prime minister is facing questions over his judgement, including from Labour MPs, after initially standing by Mandelson before removing him from the post.

Keep ReadingShow less
Trump

Trump said the suspect had been arrested earlier for 'terrible crimes,' including child sex abuse, grand theft auto and false imprisonment, but was released under the Biden administration because Cuba refused to take him back.

Getty Images

Trump says accused in Dallas motel beheading will face first-degree murder charge

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump has described Chandra Mouli “Bob” Nagamallaiah, the Indian-origin motel manager killed in Dallas, as a “well-respected person” and said the accused will face a first-degree murder charge.

Nagamallaiah, 50, was killed last week at the Downtown Suites motel by co-worker Yordanis Cobos-Martinez, a 37-year-old undocumented Cuban immigrant with a criminal history.

Keep ReadingShow less
Starmer Mandelson

Starmer talks with Mandelson during a welcome reception at the ambassador's residence on February 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.

Getty

Starmer under pressure from party MPs after Mandelson dismissal

PRIME MINISTER Keir Starmer is facing questions within the Labour party after the sacking of US ambassador Peter Mandelson.

Mandelson was removed last week after Bloomberg published emails showing messages of support he sent following Jeffrey Epstein’s conviction for sex offences. The dismissal comes just ahead of US president Donald Trump’s state visit.

Keep ReadingShow less