Sarwar: We've got repair work to do

Head of Scottish party says UK chief's view on Israel's response hurt Muslims

- PAUL HUTCHEON

ANAS Sarwar has admitted that Keir Starmer "hurt" Muslim communities by saying Israel could withhold water and energy from the people of Gaza.

The Scottish Labour leader said UK Labour chief Starmer should have cleared up his "mistake" sooner because it did not reflect his view.

Sarwar said of the wider impact on society: "We've got repair work to do." Starmer and Sarwar are close politically but their relationship has been strained over Israel's response to the October 7 Hamas terror attacks.

The Glasgow MSP has called for a ceasefire while Starmer has resisted using the word. Their main clash centred on an LBC interview in which Starmer appeared to suggest that Israel had a "right" to withhold lifeline supplies from Gaza.

Sarwar said this would be a breach of international law and was frustrated it took Starmer's team days to reject this interpretation of his comments.