Another Blackburn with Darwen Labour Party member and former Mayor has quit over the leadership's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Former Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, Salim Mulla, resigned from the party last night (October 27).

His letter was followed today by another former Mayor Cllr Suleman Khonat, who was also quit Labour over its stance.

They are the latest councillors in the borough to quit the party and their decisions came as an another protest was due to take place today in Blackburn.

In a very strongly-worded statement, Cllr Mulla  claimed the party "supports Israeli atrocities" and that the UK is a "puppet of the USA and Israel supporting the destruction of Palestine".

Labour has repeatedly stated it supports a two-state solution to bring lasting peace in Israel and Palestine, and that Israel has the right to defend itself against attacks from the terrorist group Hamas.

Leader Sir Keir Starmer has also said Israel must act within the bounds of international law, and repeatedly emphasised that Hamas and Palestine are not one and the same.

Cllr Mulla said on Friday: "I am tendering my resignation from the Labour Party.

"I have been supporting the Labour Party since the days of Barbara Castle. I have always believed in the principles and values of the Labour Party.

"However, the values of social justice, equality and human rights have been abandoned by the Party. The humanitarian principles of the party do not exist anymore. I do not agree with the direction of the party.

"I have been lobbying the Labour Party from within, including our MP Kate Hollern.

"I have been talking to some of the Labour councillors on this issue on regular basis.

"We were lobbying for a change of direction from the leadership and it is clear after a meeting of the councillors with the deputy leader Angela Rayner, that the leadership of the party is intent on continuing to support the Israeli atrocities.

"The UK has unfortunately become a puppet of USA and Israel. I do not want my membership funds to be spent by the Labour Party machinery in their support of an agenda that aims to destroy a nation.

"I do not wish to be complicit and involved with a party that condones the brutal genocide in Gaza.

"Keir Starmer has been a disgrace when he said that Israel has a right to stop water, food, medical, fuel and electricity from reaching Gaza. Shame on you Keir."

Keir Starmer has clarified he did not support Israel's siege of Gaza, cutting off food, fuel and water, but that he said he supports Israel's right to defend itself, but this must be done in line with international law.

Cllr Mulla added: "As a former lifelong member of the party and former councillor and Mayor of Blackburn with Darwen, I hereby terminate my membership of the Labour Party with immediate effect."

On Saturday afternoon, ex Mayor Cllr Khonat followed, also blasting Sir Keir for not backing calls for a ceasefire.

He also hit out at the Labour leader’s comments on LBC radio about Israel’s siege and claimed his later clarification to be “disingenuous”.

In his letter, Cllr Khonat said: “I  was attracted to the Labour Party because it was the party of the common man, the poor, the working class, asylum seekers, immigrants and those fleeing persecution from all around the world.

”It has been the party of social justice and speaking up for the oppressed, regardless of where they were in the world.

”You are now calling for ‘humanitarian aid' but you have not called for a ceasefire. Why?

“What is the point of humanitarian aid if you are going to continue to support the relentless bombing of the Palestinian civilians, to whom you are beginning to provide humanitarian aid to.

”Are you advocating to keep these civilians alive a little longer, so they can be killed at a later date?

”At this moment in time, the Labour Party is no longer showing consideration for innocent civilians in Gaza who have no links to Hamas.

”Your lack of empathy speaks volumes, and your unwillingness to change your stance given the circumstances is unacceptable.

”The Labour Party today is unrecognisable from the one I joined and have been proud to represent over the past two decades.”

In his statement he also accused Sir Keir of being a racist.

On Friday, the Labour leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council expressed disappointment at the resignation of two of the party's councillors.

Cllr Phil Riley reacted to the decision of borough adult care boss Cllr Mustafa Desai and his Roe Lee ward colleague Cllr Saj Ali to quit on Thursday (October 26).

They took their decision after a 20-minute virtual meeting with Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner to discuss the Israeli bombing of Gaza.

Cllrs Desai and Ali will now sit as Independents.

They have accused Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of failing to demand a ceasefire, not calling strongly enough for aid routes to be opened, and failing to condemn 'atrocities being committed by Israel'.

Labour’s official stance, as set out by Sir Keir, is that the party supports a humanitarian pause, as backed by the United Nations and the USA, to temporarily stop the bombardments by Israel and halt rockets from inside Gaza to allow aid to enter, civilians to flee and Israeli hostages seized by Hamas to be released.

Yesterday, a non-binding UN motion for a ceasefire, tabled by Jordan, won by 120 votes to 14, with Israel and the USA voting against it and the UK one of 45 nations which abstained from the vote.

Cllrs Desai and Ali's resignations follow Audley and Queens Park ward's Cllr Altaf 'Tiger' Patel quitting the Conservative Party over the government's stance on the conflict.

Dozens of Labour councillors in Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Hyndburn and Pendle have written to both Sir Keir and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak calling for them to press for an immediate ceasefire.

Since the fighting started after a terrorist attack by Hamas militants which killed hundreds of civilians in Israel on October 7, the country's defence forces have been bombarding Gaza with missiles. Thousands of civilians have since been killed.