UK Labour named controversial pro-Israel lobbyist Luke Akehurst as their parliamentary candidate for North Durham on Wednesday, amid what critics say is a “purge” of leftwing and pro-Palestine MPs and candidates. The appointment of Akehurst, director of the We Believe in Israel campaign group, comes ahead of the UK general election on 4 July and amid fractures within the party over its support for Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza. Oxford resident Akehurst was not chosen by the local North Durham Labour party but was “parachuted” into the safe seat in Britain’s north, according to British media rep…