A Labour MP has received a formal reminder of conduct after sharing a controversial social media post accusing party leader Sir Keir Starmer of “taking Israel’s money and orders.”
Clive Lewis, MP for Norwich South since 2015, shared the post from the X (formerly Twitter) account of historian Louise Raw. The post featured a photograph of a smiling child, accompanied by highly emotive criticism of Starmer’s position on the conflict in Gaza and suggested undue influence by the Israeli government — a claim widely condemned for invoking antisemitic tropes.
The post read: “Very sorry about the photo but I want to understand how everyone isn’t screaming inside. A precious baby still trying to smile and show love. How aren’t you in tears every day @Keir_Starmer? You have kids. How are you still taking Israel’s money & orders? HOW?”
Mr Lewis reposted the message but later deleted it following backlash. Labour said the image in the post was later proven to be misleading, showing a Turkish child suffering from a rare genetic skin disorder entirely unrelated to the Israel-Gaza conflict.
In response, a Labour Party spokesperson said:
“This social media post expresses incorrect and unacceptable tropes. Clive Lewis MP has deleted the repost and rightly apologised for the offence caused. Mr Lewis has been reminded about the high standards of conduct expected by representatives of the Labour Party.”
The phrase “taking Israel’s money and orders” has drawn particular criticism for echoing longstanding antisemitic conspiracies around Jewish influence and control, something Labour has worked hard to root out in the wake of repeated scandals during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.
Although Mr Lewis has not publicly commented since deleting the post, Labour insiders suggest he accepted the party’s decision and acknowledged the inappropriate nature of the content.
The incident comes at a sensitive time for the Labour leadership, which has been keen to demonstrate a zero-tolerance approach to antisemitism following the party’s bruising battles with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The party was found to have acted unlawfully in its handling of antisemitism complaints under the previous leadership, prompting a significant overhaul of its disciplinary processes.
Sir Keir Starmer, who has positioned himself as a staunch supporter of both Israel’s right to security and a lasting peace in the region, has faced criticism from some on the left for not being vocal enough in condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza. However, many within the party argue that any opposition must not cross the line into conspiracy or discrimination.
The broader context of the incident is Labour’s ongoing struggle to manage deeply polarised views within its ranks on the Israel-Palestine conflict, while also maintaining party discipline and avoiding rhetoric that could be construed as hate speech or antisemitic in tone.
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Louise Raw, whose original post Mr Lewis shared, is known for her outspoken political commentary and support for the Palestinian cause. However, critics argue that her language in this instance perpetuated dangerous and unfounded narratives.
A community note was added to her post by platform users, clarifying that the image had been misattributed: “This image is unrelated to Israel’s war on Hamas. It shows a Turkish boy with a rare skin condition known as lamellar ichthyosis.”
The episode is likely to be seized upon by opponents of Labour who accuse the party of still harbouring individuals who fail to respect boundaries on sensitive issues. It also underscores the risks politicians face when engaging with unverified content on social media.
As the general election draws nearer, Labour’s leadership will be keen to avoid any distractions that could damage its standing among voters or provide ammunition to critics questioning its progress on antisemitism.
Whether Mr Lewis faces further internal disciplinary action remains unclear, but for now, the formal reminder stands as both a caution and a signal of the party’s intent to uphold a higher standard of accountability.
