Starmer insists party is united despite calls for him to quit over Gaza

SQUIRMING Keir Starmer was forced to bat away demands from Labour councillors to quit over his Gaza stance as he insisted his party remains "united".

- Martyn Brown

The party leader said he was not focused on the "position of individuals" as he was grilled on the deepening chaos within Labour.

Sir Keir was challenged over calls from the leaders of Burnley and Pendle councils urging him to "step aside" over his refusal to call for a ceasefire in the conflict.

Mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and 15 frontbenchers are among those who have diverged from the official party line.

Offensive

At least 250 councillors have also called for a ceasefire, with around 30 councillors resigning from the party over the leadership's position on the Israel-Hamas war.

Meanwhile, Andy McDonald, circled right, has been suspended as a Labour MP, over what the party described as "deeply offensive" comments at a pro-Palestinian rally.