Ms Nandy had appeared alongside Mr Ali at a constituency event after the comments he made about Israel were first reported, and before Labour announced that it was suspending him after further comments came to light.
She said: “I would just say to people in Rochdale, if you are going out to vote, please consider voting for anybody who you believe will help to bring an end to this hate and division at a time when it’s spilling out onto our streets. We need political leaders who are prepared to stand up to it and not stoke it.”
She said that when she was in Rochdale she had seen “hate and division being stoked by particular candidates”, which she said “people in Rochdale don’t need and don’t want”.
Among the candidates standing are George Galloway, for the Workers Party of Britain, and Simon Danczuk, for Reform UK.
Mr Galloway has put the Israel-Gaza war at the centre of his election campaign, with some of his leaflets reading: “The people of Gaza don’t have a vote in this election; you do.”
There have also been billboards put up around the Greater Manchester town that accuse Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, of being “in the pocket of Israel”.
Mr Ali will still be on the ballot paper as the Labour candidate, but as he has had the party’s support withdrawn he would sit as an independent MP if elected.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
