A senior Labour MP has been suspended from the parliamentary party following “‘deeply offensive” comments he made at a pro-Palestine rally over the weekend.
Andy McDonald held various shadow ministerial roles under Jeremy Corbyn, and served under Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership before resigning from the front bench in 2021 over a disagreement in policy with the leadership.
Over the weekend, he attended a pro-Palestine rally, in which he said: “We won’t rest until we have justice. Until all people, Israelis and Palestinians, between the river and the sea, can live in peaceful liberty.”
He went on to shout “free Palestine”.
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Downing Street said it was “not acceptable” for people to chant “from the river to the sea” – a phrase referring to the land between the River Jordan and the Mediterranean Sea – as it is “deeply offensive” to many.
While Mr McDonald did not immediately face consequences for his words, he was later suspended on Monday evening.
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Sir Keir and his party have been far from united on their response to the conflict in the Middle East, with the leader calling for “humanitarian pauses” but not a ceasefire, while other Labour MPs – including shadow ministers – have called for a stop to the fighting.
A Labour spokesperson said: “The comments made by Andy McDonald at the weekend were deeply offensive, particularly at a time of rising antisemitism which has left Jewish people fearful for their safety.
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“The chief whip has suspended the Labour whip from Andy McDonald, pending an investigation.”
The chant “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free” has been heard during recent demonstrations.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman has previously said the slogan is antisemitic, adding that she thinks it is “widely understood” to call for the destruction of Israel.
Pro-Palestine campaigners contest this definition.
Mr McDonald’s suspension came shortly after Tory MP Paul Bristow was sacked from his government job for calling for a permanent ceasefire – as the government policy is the same “humanitarian pauses” as Sir Keir is advocating.
