Kemi Badenoch has launched a furious attack on a pro-Gaza MP who appeared to celebrate the decision to block Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from attending a football match in Birmingham.

The Conservative leader condemned the comments made by the so-called independent MP, who also serves as a Liberal Democrat councillor, accusing him of “congratulating and celebrating” the fact that Jewish fans would be unable to attend the Europa League clash between Aston Villa and the Israeli side next month.

Speaking to GB News, Mrs Badenoch said: “He should be kicked out of his party. There is no place for that in this country.

“We’ve always been a sanctuary for Jewish people, and we do not want to see Islamist threats to them.

“We just had an attack in Manchester two weeks ago where two Jewish people were killed.

“We need to make sure this is a safe country for them, not give up and allow the mob to take over.”

The remarks come amid growing backlash against Birmingham’s Safety Advisory Group and West Midlands Police, who advised that Maccabi Tel Aviv supporters should not be allowed to attend the November 6 match.

Mrs Badenoch said the incident showed “weakness” from the Government and police, insisting ministers must “show some backbone” and step in to protect Jewish people.

“What starts with Jews does not end with Jews,” she warned.

“If we allow the mob to terrorise Jewish people, those threats will spread, including to the Muslim population.”

The Tory leader also took aim at the Home Secretary, accusing her of failing to act decisively: “She said she’d be doing everything she could, what are they doing now?

“She should be directing the West Midlands Police. The Prime Minister should be directing them. Right now, they’re just being weak.”

Downing Street has since confirmed that talks are happening “at pace” to resolve the row, with the Home Office “urgently working to support police to try and find a way through this”.

Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Local Government Secretary Steve Reed have both been in discussions with Birmingham officials about allowing fans to attend the game safely.

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Pro-Gaza MP Ayoub Khan has insisted that he “is not a racist” after supporting the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans from the Aston Villa game next month.

Hitting out at the “echo chamber” of views, Mr Khan responded: “If I’ve supported the fact that Russian teams were being banned because of the atrocities that are being committed in Ukraine, I have held and maintained the same consistency when it comes to Israel’s Israeli football teams.

“We have had more than 800 athletes murdered in Gaza, 350 of them footballers and a very prominent footballer, 41-year-old Mr Salam Soleimani, who was killed whilst waiting for food.

“Eric Cantona asking for the boycott of Israel football teams. So there is a moral argument and, you know, people will dilute that word.

“It means very little when all you’ve done is stood up for principle and have been labelled something which you’re not. I’m not a racist.”

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