Welsh Muslim Council Say Labour Leader Keir Starmer ‘Misrepresented’ Visit

Labour Party Leader Sir Keir Starmer (Photo by WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto via AP)

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer faces claims that he “misrepresented” his visit to the South Wales Islamic Centre in Cardiff, as backlash continues over his Israel-Gaza conflict comments.

After the visit, which took place on Sunday, Starmer boasted on social media about hearing from the Muslim community and their concerns over the conflict.

However, the Centre pushed back in a statement published late Tuesday, apologising “for the hurt and confusion” caused by hosting the politician.

“Keir Starmer’s social media post and images gravely misrepresented our congregants and the nature of the visit,” it said.

The Centre made its position clear, continuing: “We affirm, unequivocally, the need for a free Palestine. We implore all those with political authority to uphold international law, and the end to the occupation of Palestine.”

Things have gone south for Starmer since an LBC Radio interview in which he seemed to imply that Israel cutting off water and power in Gaza was part of its right to defend itself. But after a storm of outrage, he hastily backtracked, insisting he was only talking about Israel’s right to defend itself.

According to The Guardian, eight Labour councillors in Oxford have resigned from the party following Starmer’s initial comments, resulting in the party losing its majority in the city council.