Cllr Jack Khan to step down over Labour Party's 'Gaza stance'

Cllr Jack Khan who is a Labour ward councillor for the Rumworth ward, announced on social media.

The councillor, who is also the owner of a letting’s agency in Bolton, said he could no longer ignore his national party's views on Palestine and Israel.

He told The Bolton News: “I have stepped down and the reason I am stepping away from Labour is due to the national policies on Gaza and what this government is doing."

He said that he was unhappy with an interview Sir Keir Starmer did with LBC in which he appeared to suggest Israel had "the right" to stop all electricity and water to Gaza.

However, the leader of the Labour Party said this is not what he meant in a later interview with other broadcasters.

At the time Sir Keir said: "I know the LBC clip caused concern and distress in some Muslim communities so let me be clear about what I was saying and what I was not saying.

"I was saying Israel has the right to self-defence, and when I said the right I meant it was the right to self-defence. 

"I was not saying Israel has the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines.

Cllr Khan said: "The policies are the same as spending billions on wars abroad that have nothing to do with us."

Labour has said arms exports to Israel should be suspended if ministers have received legal advice that it has breached international law, but has resisted backing an embargo without seeing the guidance.

Cllr Khan praised the people he worked with in Bolton and even announced he was ready to join a different party.

He said: “I love the people I work with like councillors Martin Donaghy, Nick Peel and Karen Hon."

Cllr Khan is not standing again for Labour in the next local elections and will finish his term on May 2 with his options open to joining other parties.

Cllr Nick Peel thanked Cllr Khan for his time but said he was removed due to 'struggling with his duties.'

He said: "Jack has been a councillor for just 12 months and whilst it is true, he has struggled somewhat with his duties, he was a popular member of our team.

"We accepted Jack's own decision not to stand again for election.

"Whilst Jack is still quite vocal on social media about his support and respect for me personally, he was however removed from the Party after announcing he is seeking to be an MP for a number of other parties.

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"I wish Jack well for the future."

The councillor said in response: "I work over and beyond. I attend any invite I was given and took more than my fair share of duties and helped so many people in the community, including with welfare and housing.

"I respect Cllr Peel, he is very hardworking and the best leader that Bolton could wish for."

The councillor said he was supported by family and friends, and that all agreed that it was the best decision for him to move on.

He said: "I also feel very strongly that in this country, there are so many things like homeless people on the streets, we have not got doctors and nurses and this government is not helping them.”