An MP suspended by Labour over comments he made about the Middle East conflict has threatened to take legal action against a fellow politician over a post he made on social media.
Andy McDonald, who represents Middlesbrough, has accused Tory MP Chris Clarkson of posting a “highly defamatory statement” about him on X in relation to comments Mr McDonald made at a rally.
He said he was “not prepared to stand by” while Mr Clarkson or others “peddle the lie” that he sought to justify Hamas’s actions on October 7.
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Mr McDonald had the Labour whip withdrawn after he used the phrase “between the river and the sea” during a speech at the demonstration, which a spokesman described as “deeply offensive, particularly at a time of rising antisemitism which has left Jewish people fearful for their safety”.
A slogan used by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, has been described as antisemitic by critics, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman claiming that it is “widely understood” to call for the destruction of Israel.
But Mr McDonald said his reference to the phrase was part of a “heartfelt plea” for peace in the region.
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In a post on X, Mr Clarkson wrote: “‘Between the River and the Sea’ is a deeply sinister antisemitic trope – seeing a Labour MP use it whilst seeking to justify the murderous actions of Hamas should be shocking. Sadly, it’s barely surprising.”
Explaining why he was taking legal action, Mr McDonald said: “Mr Clarkson’s statement is highly defamatory and caused serious harm to my reputation.
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“Much of what I have said in the last few days about the recent events in Israel and Palestine has been deliberately distorted and misinterpreted
“I am more than prepared to sue anyone who thinks that it is acceptable to publish lies about me.”
The MP said he had instructed solicitors to “take the first steps in commencing legal proceedings against Mr Clarkson by sending him a letter of claim for libel”.
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He said that in his October 28 speech to a mass rally, he called for peace in the Israel-Gaza war and for “an immediate comprehensively binding ceasefire”.
Due to the ongoing legal action Mr Clarkson was unable to comment.
Sir Keir Starmer has faced mutiny in his party over his position on Gaza, which has been to call for a humanitarian pause to allow more aid and support into the region but to reject a ceasefire, which is intended to be more long-term.
Several senior Labour figures have diverged from the official party line by backing a full ceasefire, including mayors Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and shadow ministers Yasmin Qureshi, Jess Phillips and Imran Hussain, among others.
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Sir Keir was asked about Mr McDonald during a speech this week in which he laid out his reasoning for not supporting a ceasefire.
The Labour leader told reporters he could not “interfere” in the party process but warned Labour MPs must be “extremely careful in their language.”
The suspended MP has said he will fully co-operate with the investigation into his suspension and trusted “that the whip will be restored”.
Conservative MP Paul Bristow was sacked from his job as a ministerial aide at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology after urging Rishi Sunak to back a full ceasefire.
