Labour still has an anti-Semitism problem

Azhar Ali's 7 October conspiracy theories remind us that this was never just about the Corbynistas .

Ali told a meeting of the Lancashire Labour Party that Israel deliberately allowed Hamas to massacre Israeli citizens, as a pretext for an invasion of Gaza .

Ali said that the Jewish State effectively orchestrated atrocities against its own people all in pursuit of its supposedly genocidal’ aims in Gaza .

Labour spokesman says Ali is genuine in his contrition.

Labour is reportedly reluctant to dispense with Ali in Rochdale because it fears this would hand the seat over to George Galloway .

Starmer may have happily expelled former leader Jeremy Corbyn from the party on the grounds of his apologism for anti-Semitism.

But while Labour ’s current leadership is happy fighting these factional battles, it is clearly less comfortable facing down anti-Semitic when it emerges elsewhere in the party.