A LABOUR councillor has resigned after saying he did not know what to tell his five-year-old daughter about what the party was doing to bring an end to the war in Gaza.

Ammar Anwar represents Dewsbury West on Kirklees Council in the Yorkshire Pennines.

At a meeting of the council on Wednesday evening, he announced that he would be resigning from the Labour Party in an emotional speech.

With a Palestinian flag draped around his neck, Anwar said: “As I came home yesterday my five-year-old daughter, who was watching the news the previous night with me [and] saw images of what was going on in Gaza, she said to me ‘Dad, what are you doing about the videos we were watching?’

“That absolutely broke me. I have been an active member and supporter of the Labour Party all my life.

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“Since the age of 14 I believed in its views and principles. But, unfortunately, under the current leadership the Labour Party has let me down.

“I can no longer be part of this institution after its support of an apartheid state that is killing thousands of innocent people, having killed over 25,000 people in the last 100 days.

“It’s with a heavy heart I leave the party I always loved.”

Through tears, Anwar said that his decision was related to the views expressed by his constituents.

He added: “I believe I might re-join in the future if its leadership is changed and [changes to] the view on Palestine and places like Kashmir and Ukraine have been made.

“This decision was made by the residents that elected me in Dewsbury West. It is not a light decision I have taken today.”

Anwar broke down into the arms of a colleague while some members of the council applauded his speech. 

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Speaking after the council meeting, Anwar said he could no longer stay silent and appealed to those still in the Labour Party to stand up to the leadership.

“Keir Starmer and his Labour Party are supportive of an apartheid state. Please do the right thing. I will be with you, the people will be with you.”

Many on social media praised Anwar's speech. 

Author and lawyer Dr Shola Mos-Shogbamimu described him as "a man of integrity" while another said: "Finally, someone in Labour with a spine."

It comes after Starmer recently dropped his pledge that a future Labour government would immediately recognise Palestinian statehood.