Fury as Labour re-admits ‘river and sea’ MP after attacking Tories over donor row

Labour's Andy McDonald speaks at Palestine rally

Labour’s claims of having moved on from the antisemitism of Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership have been left in tatters this afternoon, according to Conservative MPs, after Sir Keir Starmer returned the whip to a controversial MP.

Left-wing Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald was suspended from the party in October over “deeply offensive” comments made by him at a Gaza rally.

Mr McDonald was filmed using the phrase “between the river and sea” during a speech in central London, something Labour said was “deeply offensive, particularly at a time of rising antisemitism which has left Jewish people fearful for their safety”.

Many Jews believe the phrase to represent a desire to abolish Israel entirely.

Despite hammering Rishi Sunak at PMQs over the Tory donor racism row, Sir Keir Starmer quietly re-admitted Mr McDonald back into the Labour Party this morning.

Mr McDonald was suspended for using the phrase 'between the river and sea' at a Gaza rally (Image: Facebook)

A statement by the party after PMQs revealed the whip has been returned following a “full investigation”.

They concluded that he had not broken any party rules, but had been reminded “of the importance of elected representatives being mindful, not only of what they say in public, but how their words may be interpreted”.

The Labour Chief Whip has apparently received assurances that the Corbynite MP “understands the need to be mindful and about his future conduct”.

Tory MPs erupted at the news, with Jewish MP Andrew Percy slamming Labour for allowing him back into the party.

Tory MP Andrew Percy has blasted Labour's decision to re-admit Mr McDonald (Image: Sky News)

Mr Percy told the Express: “The river to the sea is a chant that makes many Jewish people feel unsafe.

"It is understood by many to be genocidal, to call for the destruction of the state of Israel and states that Jews have no right to self-determination in their own homeland.

"If Labour really has moved on from its rampant anti-Semitism they would have no space for anyone using it and promoting it.”

Mr Percy also blasted Mr McDonald’s previous claim that the Israeli Air Force had been responsible for the bombing of the Al-Ahli hospital in Gaza, something British intelligence later disproved.

The Humberside MP added: “He also amplified and promoted on social media a false claim about a hospital attack which many consider an example of a blood libel against Jews”.

Mr McDonald’s Teesside neighbour, Sir Simon Clarke, described Sir Keir Starmer’s flip-flop as “utterly pathetic”.

Sir Simon added that Sir Keir’s attack of the Tories over today’s donor row would “have more credibility” had he not “just restored the whip to Andy McDonald”.

Tees Valley mayor Lord Ben Houchen added: “Tell me again how the Labour Party have changed?”

Mr McDonald is yet to comment.