A Labour housing chief has said she will not be standing down following the announcement her pro-Israel husband is running to be an MP in northeast England.

Oxford City Council cabinet member for housing Linda Smith represents the Blackbird Leys ward and is married to Luke Akehurst, a self-described Zionist and founder and director of the 'We Believe in Israel' UK network group.

Mr Akehurst previously ran to be a city councillor for the St Mary's ward in 2021 and has now been put selected as Labour MP candidate for North Durham which political commentators describe as a safe seat.

READ MORE: Labour uncertainty over candidates as Abbott accuses Starmer of ‘cull’ of left

Ms Smith said: "I won't be stepping down from the council.

"I love my job as cabinet member for housing and communities and I'm committed to working hard for the residents of Blackbird Leys for the next four years on making the estate cleaner and safer for everyone."

Oxford Mail: Linda Smith.Linda Smith. (Image: Contribution.)

We have made attempts to contact Mr Akehurst who resides in the city.

Mr Akehurst stepped down from his role as a Labour councillor for the Chatham ward in the London borough of Hackney in 2014. 

Speaking to the Hackney Post at the time, Mr Akehurst said he was moving to Oxford to be nearer to his wife's family. 

It comes as Mr Akehurst has received criticism on social media for his views.

Among his opponents are the pro-Palestine campaigner and rapper Kareem Dennis, known by his stage name Lowkey, after Mr Akehurst campaigned to have his music removed from Spotify.

Political commentator Aaron Bastani also criticised Mr Akehurst and said his job was "to lobby and represent the interests of a foreign power".

The Muslim Association of Britain also said in a public statement: "On the day we hear UK Labour will be blocking Dianne Abbott from standing as a Labour MP, they announce that this man, who's a director of lobby group called 'We Believe in Israel' will stand as an MP.

"They're not even hiding it. The UK Labour Party is firmly in the grasp of right wing extremists."

News of the candidacy comes amid ongoing conflict in Gaza and a fallout of many councillors from Labour in Oxford with 10 resignations over the party's stance nationally on the issue suggesting a disproportionate amount of discontent concentrated in the city.

Ms Smith was among those who voted, along with other Labour councillors, as part of a unanimous call in the council for an immediate ceasefire in November last year.

Oxford Mail: Sir Keir Starmer.Sir Keir Starmer. (Image: PA)

We asked Ms Smith whether Mr Akehurst's pro-Israel views held any bearing on her own and if she would still reside in Oxford if Mr Akehurst were elected, but are yet to receive a response.

Hundreds of people have taken to the streets of Oxford in protest of the bombing of Palestinians following a Hamas attack on October 7.

Mr Akehurst wrote an opinion piece in October last year where he said: "I can understand criticism of how Israel is conducting this war or desire for a ceasefire.

"But it must be accompanied by recognition Israel has a right to respond militarily to a devastating attack, even if you believe it should not exercise it.

Oxford Mail: Oxford Town Hall.Oxford Town Hall. (Image: Ed Nix.)

"If there was ever a 'just war', this is it, much like with the Allies’ war against Nazism or Vietnam’s against the genocidal Khmer Rouge in Cambodia."

The Labour party says Mr Akehurst has a long history in the Labour movement and will be a passionate advocate for North Durham and all its towns and villages.

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About the author

Noor is the Local Democracy Reporter for Oxfordshire who covers political stories from across the county. 

She began working as a journalist in Oxford in September 2023 having graduated from the University of Oxford.

Noor was trained at the News Associates journalism school and can be found on X through the handle @NoorJQurashi