Labour in crisis as top team resigns over Gaza ceasefire

Frontbench mutiny

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, faced a major crisis as eight members of his top team resigned over his refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza. Shadow Ministers including Jess Phillips, Yasmin Qureshi, and Afzal Khan quit in protest.

Defying party orders

A total of fifty-six Labour MPs voted against party orders to abstain on an SNP amendment calling for an end to hostilities. Senior members of the party faced potential consequences if they backed the amendment, as they were instructed to abstain.

Labour's stance

While Labour supports humanitarian pauses in the fighting to allow aid to reach Palestinians, they stop short of calling for a complete cessation of hostilities. This position has caused internal divisions within the party.

Resignations and statements

Shadow Home Office Minister Jess Phillips, Shadow Equalities Minister Yasmin Qureshi, Shadow Trade Minister Afzal Khan, and Shadow Devolution Minister Paula Barker all resigned in support of a ceasefire. Shadow Education Minister Helen Hayes and Frontbencher Naz Shah also signaled their departure. They believe that immediate action is necessary to protect innocent lives and end human suffering.

Labour's defeat and the aftermath

Labour's earlier amendment calling for a ceasefire was defeated by a majority of 107 MPs. Tory MP Paul Bristow, who represents a constituency with a significant Muslim population, was sacked after voting against a ceasefire. The SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn called for moral leadership from Parliament and urged MPs to back an immediate end to hostilities.

Personal stories

Lib Dem MP Layla Moran shared the tragic news that one of her family members in Gaza died due to a deterioration in their health, possibly due to a lack of food or dehydration and a failure to access medical care.