What's happened
Labour candidate Azhar Ali apologises for remarks about Israel, causing controversy in the Rochdale by-election.
Why it matters
The controversy surrounding the Labour candidate's remarks has caused significant disruption in the Rochdale by-election and raised concerns about the party's stance on antisemitism.
What the papers say
The Independent reports on the sensational allegations made against the Labour candidate, while BBC News provides comments from Labour's shadow minister and the Conservatives urging Labour to suspend Mr Ali. Metro highlights the reaction from the Jewish community and the Tory Vice-Chairman. The Mirror and BBC News cover the candidate's apology and the impact on the by-election.
How we got here
The controversy arose from remarks made by Labour candidate Azhar Ali about Israel's involvement in the 7 October attack, leading to the withdrawal of party support and calls for his suspension.
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The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Rochdale is a large town in Greater Manchester, England, at the foothills of the South Pennines in the dale on the River Roch, 5.3 miles northwest of Oldham and 9.8 miles northeast of Manchester.
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