Union leaders have told Keir Starmer his position on Gaza risks alienating millions of Britons, telling the Labour leader their members are increasingly angry about his refusal to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.
Members of Britain’s biggest unions used a regular meeting with Starmer this week to urge him to be more critical of Israel, following weeks of tension within the Labour party over the issue.
Several also urged him not to rescind from his climate pledges, in a sign of how unions are likely to try to maximise their influence over Labour’s policy process as the party draws up its election manifesto.
“Several people at the meeting were pretty clear with Starmer,” said one person with knowledge of what happened at the meeting. “They told him, ‘Your position on Gaza is alienating working people, you are out of step with the majority’.”
The person added that the Labour leader responded that he wanted western countries to work towards a “sustainable ceasefire” rather than calling for one to be declared immediately.
Starmer’s response to the Israel-Gaza war has been a source of tension between the Labour leader and many of his MPs, councillors and members for weeks.
Last year he gave an interview in which he appeared to suggest Israel was within its rights to withhold water and power from Gaza. Even though he has since rowed back from that position, many of his colleagues and supporters remain angry that he has not done more to show sympathy with the plight of people in Gaza.
Labour’s green policies have also become a problem for some on the left, as shadow ministers debate scaling back their commitment to spending £28bn a year on green schemes if elected this year. Two union leaders urged Starmer not to row back from the pledge, which the Labour leader recently described as an “ambition” rather than a promise.
Those briefed on the meeting said Starmer did reassure them that he would not do so, though his shadow cabinet is still looking at ways to minimise the Conservative attacks on the scheme that are likely to amplify during an election campaign.
A spokesperson for Starmer did not respond to a request to comment.
