Labour councillor quits party over Starmer's stance on Israel and Gaza conflict

Lotte Collett was elected as a councillor for Woodside in 2022 but will now represent the ward as an independent, reports Simon Allin, Local Democracy Reporter

Haringey Civic Centre and (inset) Woodside councillor Lotte Collett

A Haringey Labour councillor has resigned over the party leadership’s stance on the conflict in Israel and Gaza.

Lotte Collett, who was elected councillor for Woodside ward in 2022, said it was “shocking” that Sir Keir Starmer and his leadership team were not calling for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and accused it of failing to “condemn Israeli aggression as mounting breaches of international law are occurring”.

Her comments followed an LBC interview with Starmer on 11th October in which the Labour leader said Israel had the right to do “everything that it can” to get hostages taken by Hamas back “safe and sound”.

When questioned by presenter Nick Ferrari about whether cutting off power and water was “appropriate”, Starmer said: “I think that Israel does have that right. It is an ongoing situation”, adding: “Obviously, everything should be done within international law.”

Following the resignation of several Labour councillors in other parts of the country, a spokesperson for the Labour leader suggested he had in fact been answering a previous question on Israel’s right to defend itself.

However, in a resignation statement issued yesterday (Thursday 19th), Cllr Collett said that it was with “great sadness” that her conscience drove her to resign the Labour whip “following public statements by Labour leader Keir Starmer that provided unequivocal support for Israeli military action in Gaza, upheld the right to deny Palestinians, food, water and electricity and failed to condemn Israeli aggression as mounting breaches of international law are occurring”.

She added: “While there is no justification for the Hamas massacres and taking of hostages from Israel, this should not excuse the ongoing acts of vengeance being perpetrated against the residents of Gaza, nor the constant reprisals and blockade of Palestinians in the West Bank.

“It is time for the international community to stand together and ensure that justice prevails for all […] the Labour leadership should require Israel to abide by the same rules which deem Hamas’ attacks on civilians unlawful in their resistance against Israeli occupation, to ensure the safety of Palestinian citizens. Israel’s unchallenged right to retaliate against Hamas’ aggressive actions should not excuse them from being held accountable to these rules.

“The siege on Gaza must be lifted because it is an act of collective punishment and is therefore in breach of international law. The leadership of the Labour Party should be calling for an immediate ceasefire.”

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Cllr Collett said she was proud of what the local Haringey Labour group was achieving on issues such as providing housing, improving children’s services and supporting residents through the cost-of-living crisis.

She added: “It is devastating to have to walk away from that, but occasionally we have to make moral stands, and I think [with] the atrocities now occurring in Gaza we have to call for an immediate ceasefire, and the fact that the Labour leadership under Keir Starmer is not doing that is shocking.”

Cllr Collett will continue to represent Woodside ward as an independent councillor.

On Wednesday this week, Starmer wrote to Labour councillors setting out the leadership’s position on the conflict. He said: “Labour has been clear; Israel has the right to defend herself, to keep its people safe and bring hostages home. Israel’s defence must be conducted in accordance with international law.

“We are also clear, the pain and suffering that has been unleashed is the responsibility of Hamas. Hamas are not the Palestinian people, and the Palestinian people are not Hamas.”

Starmer added that Labour would continue to call for all parties to act in accordance with international law and protect civilian life; immediate humanitarian access of food, water, electricity and medicine to Gaza; and safe humanitarian corridors for those fleeing violence.

Following Cllr Collett’s resignation, the local Labour group issued a statement saying: “Haringey Labour are sad to see Cllr Lotte Collett leave the Labour Party and the Haringey Labour group, and we would like to thank her for all she has done for our group since being elected last year. We wish her well as she continues to serve the residents of Woodside ward as an independent councillor.

“This is a deeply worrying time for our communities in Haringey. The loss of life and devastation that has taken place in Israel and Gaza is unfathomable and our hearts go out to all who have been impacted by these shocking events.

“As a council, we continue to meet with our affected communities, our religious institutions, multifaith forum, schools, and the Met Police to offer reassurance, ensure our residents are safe and provide support where we can.”

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