George Galloway’s deputy was branded ‘appalling’ today after he refused to condemn Hamas’s October 7 massacre of Israelis.
Chris Williamson, a former Labour MP, insisted ‘oppressed people have an absolute right to armed resistance’ as he was challenged on the terror attacks that sparked the latest Gaza violence.
In an extraordinary interview in the coveted 8.10am slot on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, Mr Williamson also declined to disown an endorsement of his Workers Party of Britain by ex-BNP leader Nick Griffin.
The exchanges came as Mr Williamson took to the airwaves to hail his boss Mr Galloway’s stunning victory in the Rochdale by-election.
The pro-Palestinian firebrand triumphed in the normally-safe Labour seat after one of the most divisive and chaotic contests in recent history.
And he immediately vowed to use the platform to torment Sir Keir over his stance towards Israel.
Chris Williamson, a former Labour MP, insisted ‘oppressed people have an absolute right to armed resistance’ as he was challenged on the terror attacks that sparked the latest Gaza violence (file picture)
The exchanges came as Mr Williamson took to the airwaves to hail his boss George Galloway’s stunning victory in the Rochdale by-election (pictured)
The desolate scene of the Supernova music festival, where hundreds of people were gunned down by Hamas terrorists on October 7
Although the result came after Labour was forced to disown its candidate Azhar Ali over remarks condemned as anti-Semitic, it will raise fresh concerns about a backlash against the party in muslim communities.
Mr Williamson was braced on whether he would condemn the October 7 attacks – in which more than 1,000 people were killed, including many attending a music festival – by presenter Mishal Husain this morning.
‘Well look, I mean the two main parties have not condemned or indeed called for a ceasefire, they have not condemned the Israeli regime’s activities,’ he replied.
When Husain pressed that he was not answering the question, Mr Williamson said:
‘You can’t expect to live in a situation where people have been oppressed for 75 years and not expect a reaction.’
Asked whether that meant the attacks were ‘understandable in some way’, he went on:
‘What about the Palestinian people that had been massacred over nearly 76 years now actually? Where is the media outrage at that. What do you expect?
‘In international law oppressed peoples have an absolute right to armed resistance… ‘
After Husain interjected that they did not have a right to ‘kill innocent people’, Mr Williamson said:
‘Listen, most of the people who were killed – the innocent people who were killed on October 7 – were killed actually by Israeli forces.’
Husain responded to the conspiracy theory by stressing that ‘we don’t know that’, before moving on to ask whether Mr Williamson ‘welcomed’ the fact that Mr Griffin had endorsed Mr Galloway in Rochdale.
The former BNP leader posted on social media yesterday that people should ‘get out and vote for George Galloway’.
Mr Williamson said: ‘If people want to endorse something you can’t spurn endorsements, or indeed control people who want to endorse…
‘You’re trying to damn George Galloway and the Workers Party by association. It’s up to people if they want to endorse a political party… I’m not going to play your games.
The result in Rochdale presents a huge problem for Labour leader Keir Starmer (pictured)
‘George Galloway, myself, the Workers Party have a long track record – the people that are involved with the Workers Party – of standing up to racism and bigotry in all its forms.
‘Now if someone wants to endorse the Workers Party that’s absolutely a matter for them. But to try and sort of imply some sort of a guilt by association because you don’t like a particular character’s politics, I’m sorry that’s absolutely absurd and it’s not a game I’m prepared to play.’
Labour frontbencher Ellie Reeves was interviewed immediate after Mr Williamson on the programme, and voiced her disgust.
‘Can I start by saying I’m utterly appalled by Chris Williamson’s failure to condemn Hamas’s attacks on October 7, and likewise his failure to distance his party from the endorsement of Nick Griffin,’ she said.
Ms Reeves apologised for Labour not being able to field a candidate in the by-election,
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