Labour and the Conservatives agree on Israel-Hamas war for now – but how long can consensus hold?

Published

2 years ago

October 15, 2023

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Since the horrific attacks last weekend we’ve heard the same headline message from both the government and Labour; that the UK stands with Israel, and it has the right to fight back.

Last night’s statements from the two leaders underscored the point. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: “To the people of Israel, I say Britain is with you.

“What took place was an act of pure evil and Israel has every right to defend itself.”

Israel-Hamas war live: Israel preparing attack by air, land and sea

Sir Keir Starmer was in agreement: “Israel has the right, indeed the duty, to defend herself and rescue these hostages.”

The prime minister, unlike Sir Keir, didn’t even mention the situation in Gaza in his statement.

But on Sunday, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly clearly understood he needed to say more about the Palestinian civilians.

There was no criticism of the Israeli response – his comments were very much couched in terms of “friends talking honestly to friends”- but Mr Cleverly repeatedly stressed the UK’s commitment to international law and called for restraint and discipline from the Israeli armed forces.

He argued that he and the government share the passion of those demonstrating in London for a better life for the Palestinian people, but made the point that it is in Israel’s interest to avoid civilian casualties, as he believes Hamas’s strategy is to escalate conflict in the area into a wider war between the Muslim world and everyone else.

And while the SNP’s Humza Yousaf has called for a ceasefire in Gaza in order to evacuate civilians and provide humanitarian assistance, both Labour and the Tories are clear in their assurance of Israel’s right to take on Hamas in Gaza.

While Mr Cleverly said the UK would never give carte blanche to any nation, he seemed to be reassured by the “regular commitments” he had received from the Israeli leadership that their operations would be in accordance with international law.

Neither the foreign secretary nor his Labour counterpart questioned Israel’s right to order the evacuation of 1.1 million people from northern Gaza, despite concern from the UN that this could lead to a humanitarian catastrophe and claims that “forced displacement” would be a breach of the Geneva Convention.

In a way what was most striking about this morning’s round of interviews was the close and almost unprecedented alignment of two men normally at opposite sides of the political spectrum.

The pair even hugged when they met outside the Sky studio this morning.

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David Lammy refused to take up Trevor Phillips’ invitation to suggest that the UK government had been slow in terms of urging restraint on the Israelis, compared to the US and France, insisting he didn’t want to be critical of James Cleverly or depart from the cross-party consensus.

While Labour are under pressure from some in the party to speak up more on behalf of Palestinian civilians, Sir Keir Starmer is determined that no one should say anything that could jeopardise his commitment to “tear out antisemitism” from the party – his pledge on taking over the leadership from Jeremy Corbyn.

Any UK politicians commenting on the situation must strike a fine balance.

For now, both Labour and the Conservatives are in agreement about what that line is, but the question as the conflict in Gaza continues, is how long that position can hold.

UK

Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after death of two children in Stafford

Published

6 hours ago

October 12, 2025

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Woman arrested on suspicion of murder after death of two children in Stafford

A 43-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after the death of two children in Stafford.

Police were called to a home on Corporation Street at around 7.30am on Sunday by West Midlands Ambulance Service.

Two children were pronounced dead at the scene, Staffordshire Police said.

Detective Inspector Kirsty Oldfield said: “We are working hard to understand more about what happened leading up to these two children tragically losing their lives.

“We ask that people do not speculate at this stage as it is distressing for family and friends and could hinder our inquiries.

“We understand that this incident may cause concern in the local community. We don’t believe there is wider threat to the public at this time.”

The 43-year-old woman, who is from the Stafford area, remains in custody.

The force has not confirmed the ages of the two children. Their next of kin have been informed and are being supported by specially-trained officers, police said.

UK

Man charged with stalking after allegedly targeting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his family

Published

8 hours ago

October 12, 2025

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Man charged with stalking after allegedly targeting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his family

A man has been charged with stalking and possession of a flick knife after allegedly targeting Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey and his family.

Inigo Rowland, 58, of Surbiton, south London, was arrested last Monday, but it was only made public on Sunday.

He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday and was remanded in custody, the Met Police said.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between June and October.

Sir Ed, the MP for Kingston and Surbiton, lives in southwest London with his wife, Emily, their 17-year-old son John, and his younger sister Ellie.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: “Inigo Rowland, 58, of Surbiton has been charged with stalking and possession of a flick knife.

“He appeared at Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, 7 October and was remanded into custody. He will next appear at the same court on Tuesday, 14 October.

“He was arrested on Monday, 6 October in relation to the offences, which are alleged to have taken place between June and October.”

A Lib Dem spokesperson said: “We cannot provide any details at this time, Ed’s number one priority is the safety of his family.”

UK

Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins dies after attack in prison

Published

18 hours ago

October 12, 2025

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Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins dies after attack in prison

Paedophile Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins has died after being attacked in prison.

Watkins, 48, was serving a 29-year jail term for multiple sexual offences, including serious crimes against young children and babies at HMP Wakefield, in West Yorkshire.

He was attacked with a knife by another inmate on Saturday morning, sources have confirmed.

West Yorkshire Police said two men, aged 25 and 43, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Watkins was pronounced dead at the scene after prison staff reported the assault to police.

The prison went into lockdown in the immediate aftermath of the incident, sources added.

A Prison Service spokesperson said they could not comment while the police investigate.

Watkins was previously stabbed in an incident at the same prison in 2023, suffering non life-threatening injuries after he was reportedly taken hostage by three other inmates before being freed by prison officers six hours later.

He was sentenced in December 2013 to 29 years in prison, with a further six years on licence, after admitting 13 sex offences, including the attempted rape of a fan’s baby.

He also encouraged a second fan to abuse her child during a webcam chat and secretly stashed child sexual abuse videos, some of which he had made himself.

At the time, police described him as a “committed, organised paedophile”.

Having found fame in Welsh rock band Lostprophets, Watkins was arrested after his Pontypridd home was searched on orders of a drug warrant in September 2012.

A large number of computers, mobile phones and storage devices were seized during the search.

When sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court, the singer was told he was being given an extended sentence – and a judge said his crimes “plumbed new depths of depravity”.

After being caught with a mobile phone behind bars in 2019, he told a court that he was locked up with “murderers, mass murderers, rapists, paedophiles, serial killers – the worst of the worst”.