Woodley Councillor Quits Labour Over Gaza Claims

A councillor in Woodley has quit the Labour Party over claims it is failing to condemn ‘genocide’ and ‘mass killing of children’ in Gaza.

A councillor in Woodley has left the Labour Party, citing its failure to speak out against what he calls the ‘genocide’ and ‘mass killing of children’ in Gaza.

Councillor Majid Nagra, who represents the Loddon ward of Wokingham Borough Council, expressed his concerns regarding the Labour Party's inaction on the issue. He stated, “I am resigning from my Labour membership due to the Gaza issue and the current feeling of insecurity experienced by our communities.”

Reports indicate that over 63,000 Palestinians have died during the ongoing conflict, with Save the Children stating that the number of children killed has exceeded 20,000. Nagra described horrifying scenes of despair, with people dying while begging for food and mothers holding lifeless babies. He pointed out that a UN-backed report confirmed famine conditions in Gaza, calling it a man-made disaster.

Nagra also raised concerns about the UK’s intelligence sharing with Israel, stating that the government hasn't provided clear answers regarding its military involvement. He condemned Labour’s foreign secretary David Lammy for failing to openly address the situation, calling his comments “heartless.”

He highlighted that while the government claimed to have suspended some arms sales to Israel, vital components for weaponry remained unaffected, and there was no transparency about these dealings.

“This is a challenging and frightening time for many communities, with increasing political polarisation and social divisions,” he said. Nagra believes that Labour is no longer representing the working class and vulnerable communities, stating that the party's actions have eroded trust among its supporters.

Nagra's resignation means Wokingham Borough Council now has 28 Liberal Democrats, 19 Conservatives, five Labour candidates, and two Independents. Fellow Labour member Babar Zulfikar has also left the party, echoing concerns about the Labour Party's moral stance on the Gaza crisis.

This isn't the first time councillors in Woodley have departed from Labour, as former members have also left the party in recent years.

James Aldridge, Local Democracy Reporter