An independent Member of Parliament, Ayoub Khan, has called for Labour leader Keir Starmer to issue an apology following his criticism of West Midlands Police (WMP).
The controversy centers on WMP's proposal to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from an upcoming Aston Villa football match in Birmingham, a decision the police stated was due to a "risk of violence."
Starmer had publicly suggested that WMP's proposal amounted to "capitulation to antisemitism."
In response, Khan has urged Starmer to retract his remarks, asserting that the police's decision was based on safety concerns, not religion. The government is reportedly seeking to ensure WMP has the necessary resources to facilitate the attendance of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans at the match.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/oct/20/uk-politics-latest-news-updates-prince-andrew-covid-starmer-labour-reform-education