Labour drops councillor who called for Jewish leaders to sign anti-Israel statement

A Labour councillor who demanded Jewish faith leaders in the city of Leicester sign statements condemning Israel has been deselected by the party ahead of elections in May.

Kirk Master, a former assistant mayor and deputy police and crime commissioner, is one of 19 sitting councillors dropped by Labour following an intervention by the party’s national executive committee. (NEC).

In May 2021, Jewish News revealed how Master had issued a statement calling for Jewish and Muslim faith leaders to sign a declaration to “condemn the killings of the innocent Palestinian people.”

He wrote also that he wanted our Faith Council to produce a statement condemning the Israelis occupation and apartheid.”

Master claimed at the time: “This is not against our Jewish brothers and sisters whom many stand by our sides. This is against Crimes towards humanity that cannot be ignored.”

But Labour’s NEC has now deselected Master and other sitting councillors after an investigation noted the party in Leicester is being damaged by a culture of division, power struggles and a lack of a clear vision for the city.

Concerns were also raised about Labour alienating certain communities within the city.

In a statement on Monday, Master said:”So the Labour Party wants to silence me and our communities! Well unfortunately that’s not me.
“We’ve done some amazing work and our communities in huge numbers have made their feelings known to us loud and clear, so watch this space!”

Some expect him to announce he is standing as an independent candidate in May’s local elections.