Several Labour MPs in Greater Manchester have expressed support for Israel on X (formerly Twitter) after it was rocked by an unprecedented assault by Hamas this weekend.
At least 800 people in Israel and 560 in Gaza have been killed so far as Israel continues to retaliate against the attacks.
Angela Rayner, MP for Ashton-under-Lyne, Shadow Deputy Prime Minister and Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, reposted a tweet by Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy after the attack on Saturday 7 October which said “there can be no justification for terrorism”.
Several other prominent Labour politicians also shared Lammy’s post “stand[ing] in solidarity” with Israel, including MP for Wigan Lisa Nandy and Shadow Leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell.
Utterly appalled by the news from Israel. There can be no justification for terrorism.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) October 7, 2023
We condemn Hamas’ attacks unequivocally and stand in solidarity with Israel at this terrible time.
Labour MP for Denton and Reddish, Andrew Gwynne, and Barbara Keeley for Worsley and Eccles South retweeted Lammy’s post as well as a similar message shared by opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer.
Starmer blamed the surprise attack – on the 50th anniversary of the Yom Kippur War – on “those who seek to undermine any chance for future peace in the region.”
I utterly condemn the ongoing attacks on Israel and her citizens.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 7, 2023
There is no justification for this act of terror which is being perpetrated by those who seek to undermine any chance for future peace in the region.
Israel has a right to defend herself.
Stalybridge and Hyde MP Jonathan Reynolds, a Labour and Co-op representative, also reposted Starmer’s tweet and shared another by Lammy expressing sympathy for the family of Nathaniel Young, a 20-year-old British soldier killed while serving in the Israeli Defence Force.
My thoughts are with the family of Nathanel Young and every family affected by this awful violence.
— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) October 8, 2023
Labour stands firmly in support of Israel’s right to defend itself, rescue hostages and protect its citizens. Hamas’ appalling attack has set back the cause of peace.
Christian Wakeford of Bury South, who was originally elected as a Conservative before crossing the floor, tweeted his support for Israeli civilians – especially as the attacks were timed on a Jewish holiday.
Awful news coming out of Israel this morning on Shabbat and the holiday of Simchat Torah.
— Christian Wakeford MP (@Christian4BuryS) October 7, 2023
My thoughts are with those ordinary, innocent people, no doubt on their way to synagogue this morning being attacked for nothing more than being Jewish. https://t.co/tF1tz6tD7U
As of time of publication no Greater Manchester Tory MPs had tweeted on the matter except for Heywood and Middleton MP Chris Clarkson.
Clarkson reposted several tweets attacking Starmer and the Labour party for its support of former leader Jeremy Corbyn, whose period as leader was undermined by anti-Semitism scandals.
It is hard to forget that Keir Starmer and so many others running the Labour Party now campaigned, twice, to see this man elected to Number 10.
— Ellie Varley (@ellievarley13) October 8, 2023
Not only that, they stood quietly by him while their Jewish colleagues were hounded out of the party. https://t.co/91deDmu7w6
🚨 Once again, Labour refuse to act.
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) October 9, 2023
🚩 No surprises from the man who wanted Corbyn as Prime Minister. pic.twitter.com/yUR1A2SAHR
He also shared a post from the Downing Street account standing with Israel, but most of his retweets and own posts are from a party-political angle condemning Labour’s position and alleging they support Hamas.
The Israeli flag shines on Downing Street tonight in solidarity with the people of Israel.
— UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) October 8, 2023
We stand with 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/AEuZVmnXmo
This is one fence Sir Keir can't stay sat on – warm words on the media round won't cut it when his MPs are showing solidarity with terrorists. https://t.co/rn9afGsLp3
— Chris Clarkson MP 🇬🇧🇺🇦 (@ChrisClarksonMP) October 8, 2023
Of the 27 parliamentary constituencies in Greater Manchester, 18 are Labour seats and 9 Conservative.
Image credit: Unsplash.
