Jews have been 'targeted' in Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban while Labour 'rolls over', top Tory says

It emerged on Thursday that the fans of Israeli team Maccabi Tel Aviv would be barred from their fixture against Aston Villa on November 6 in Birmingham.

Since, parties on all sides of the benches have unleashed a tirade of criticism - both at the move and the Government's lack of action so far.

Speaking on GBN Breakfast, Mr Holden told hosts Stephen Dixon and Ellie Costello that the the ban was "completely the wrong decision".

He said: "It's an unbelievable decision and I cannot believe that MPs in Birmingham, some of them, have been welcoming this decision. People should be able to go to football matches."

After the ban, local MP Ayoub Khan, who serves as a pro-Gaza independent, hailed the move, saying that he was "very pleased" by Aston Villa's and the police's decision.

"It's unbelievable that we're now seeing this sort of pick-and-choose approach as to who should be able to come," Mr Holden fumed.

"I cannot believe that we're now seeing Jewish people basically being told that they cannot attend a football match here in the United Kingdom. "

Echoing the words of his leader Kemi Badenoch, he concluded: "It's an absolute disgrace."

Mrs Badenoch railed against the move on Thursday evening, saying: "This is a national disgrace. How have things come to this? Starmer pledged that Jews are welcome and safe in Britain.

"That he stands shoulder to shoulder with the Jewish community and will use the full force of his Government to prove it.

"Will he back those words with action and guarantee that Jewish fans can walk into any football stadium in this country?

"If not, it sends a horrendous and shameful message: there are parts of Britain where Jews simply cannot go."

"The Government needs to get a grip of it there, in the end. The ones who are responsible, not some bureaucrats at a local council level," Mr Holden continued.

He further dubbed the move political-motivated, with a Labour Mayor in the West Midlands and a Labour Government presiding over the nation.

"They need to get a grip and ensure that actually sporting events and cultural exchanges can go on properly. I cannot understand why they've not taken action already," he said.

But, when it comes to considering whether any other demographic would be subject to such treatment, the MP said: "It's pretty clear that it has not happened with any of the demographic, right.

"So we could only assume that it wouldn't happen with any other demographic. It feels very clear to me that we're seeing basically Jewish people being targeted and this Government rolling over."

Cross-party agreement has emerged after the announcement came to light, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar labelling it a "shameful decision" and called on British authorities to "reverse this coward decision".

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey called it a "serious mistake by West Midlands Police", while Reform's Nigel Farage said the ban "takes racial discrimination to a whole new level".