Labour MPs spark fury after joining pro-Palestine march on Armistice Day
LABOUR MP John McDonnell has sparked fury after he joined the pro-Palestine march on Armistice Day.
The former shadow chancellor and ex-party leader Jeremy Corbyn marched alongside activists who have made posts online sympathetic to Hamas.
Those include Palestinian activist Ziad El Aloul, who has shared a Hamas-made video showing gunmen paragliding into battle and a picture of a fighter descending on Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque.
He captioned it: “Soon towards Jerusalem.”
Another image had two men gliding into a sunset, with the comment: “Glory and dignity.”
Four other Labour MPs — Beth Winter, Zarah Sultana, Apsana Begum and Richard Burgon — were also at the demo.
One Labour MP told The Sun on Sunday Sir Keir Starmer should remove the whip from Mr McDonnell — as he has Mr Corbyn.
They said: “The anti-Semitism at these protests has been highlighted. So to be rubbing shoulders with some of these people, there’s no forgiving it. He should know better.”
Tory MP Mark Jenkinson added: “Labour haven’t changed.
“Heading up these marches is incompatible with holding the whip of a serious party.
“Sir Keir has been too weak to act. He must find a backbone.”
However, one party insider said the MPs should be free to join the march, adding: “I imagine the vast majority of Labour MPs agree with the calls for a ceasefire.”
Discipline has crumbled within the party as nearly 20 shadow ministers openly called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
But Sir Keir has stuck to his call for “humanitarian pauses” to let aid into Gaza.
Some shadow ministers are on resignation watch. Mr McDonnell and Ziad El Aloul were contacted for comment