Labour facing wave of resignations, as SNP amendment was voted down
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Defying the decision of Labor Party leader Kier Starmer, several MPs have either abstained or voted in favor of the Scottish National Party (SNP) amendment urging for a Gaza Strip ceasefire.
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Protesters hold flares during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in London, Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023 (AP)
A motion proposed by the Scottish National Party (SNP) urging a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip was voted down earlier, Wednesday afternoon, after 293 MPs voted against it while 125 MPs voted in favor of the motion.
Despite Keir Starmer's position in standing against a ceasefire, a number of frontbench Labour MPs indicated they would support the motion, which hints that they might be coerced to resign or they could be sacked by the Labour leadership.
Dozens of Labour MPS have backed the SNP motion for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, going against their Labour leader.
At least 19 frontbenchers (senior profiles) have expressed an opinion at odds with their leader. Imran Hussain, a shadow minister, quit his position last week in order to campaign for an immediate ceasefire.
Starmer said, "I regret that some colleagues felt unable to support the position tonight," adding, "But I wanted to be clear about where I stood, and where I will stand. Leadership is about doing the right thing. That is the least the public deserves. And the least that leadership demands."
As for Florence Eshalomi, the Labour frontbench as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to Angela Rayner, she stated that she had abstained in her vote on the "divisive" SNP amendment but highlighted that she "received many emails from constituents" and had made her "position clear" regarding her support for "a humanitarian ceasefire."
I have received many emails from constituents. I have made my position clear in that I support a humanitarian ceasefire.
— Florence Eshalomi MP (@FloEshalomi) November 15, 2023
I did not vote for the divisive SNP amendment and I will continue to represent the views of my constituents. pic.twitter.com/XOvwi1AbaD
Prior to the voting session on Wednesday, Naz Shah, the opposition’s shadow Home Office minister; Helen Hayes, the shadow education minister; and Afzal Khan, the shadow trade minister; submitted their resignations from the shadow Cabinet.
Today, I will be voting for the motion calling on the UK Govt to support a #CeasefireNow in Gaza. With 11,000+ Gazans killed, supporting a full & immediate ceasefire is the very least we can do.
— Afzal Khan MP (@Afzal4Gorton) November 15, 2023
In order to be free to do so, I have stepped down as Shadow Minister for Exports 👇 pic.twitter.com/v78vo4SOq3
Sarah Owen, shadow minister for local government, faith, and communities; Rachel Hopkins, shadow minister for veterans; Andy Slaughter, shadow solicitor general; and the Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS) Dan Carden and Mary Foy also resigned from their posts.
Paula Barker has also resigned from the shadow cabinet in order to vote for a ceasefire.
Yasmin Qureshi confirmed that she is stepping down as shadow women and equalities minister.
Similarly, Jess Phillips, the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, has quit the Labour frontbench over the party's position. Phillips, who served as shadow minister for domestic abuse and safeguarding.
Commenting on her decision to back a ceasefire in Gaza, she said she must vote with “my constituents, my head, and my heart”.
She wrote to Sir Keir Starmer, in a letter published on Twitter: "It is with a heavy heart that I will be leaving my post in the Shadow Home Office team."
— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) November 15, 2023
The wave of resignations comes as they voted in favor of the SNP amendment.
Today, I voted for an immediate ceasefire.
— Naz Shah MP 💙 (@NazShahBfd) November 15, 2023
For the people of Palestine, every minute, every hour, every day we wait is another orphan, another grieving mother and another family wiped out!
We must act now to protect civilian life. pic.twitter.com/7I0Rq7rQZn
The scale of bloodshed in Gaza is unprecedented. Tonight, I will vote for an immediate ceasefire.
— Yasmin Qureshi MP (@YasminQureshiMP) November 15, 2023
We must call for an end to the carnage to protect innocents lives and end human suffering.
With regret, I have stepped down as Shadow Women and Equalities Minister. pic.twitter.com/ZJUikElfGk
Earlier, Daniel Martin, the deputy political editor of the Daily Telegraph, underscored that up to eight shadow ministers have resigned, following the vote, so far, but more later followed.
Labour source says it looks like eight shadow ministers and two PPSs have gone
— Daniel Martin (@Daniel_J_Martin) November 15, 2023
Starmer attempts to reassert authority, more members to quit
Earlier, it was reported that in the wake of several resignations among members of the Labour Party, Keir Starmer is attempting to reassert his authority within the party over the Israeli war on Gaza, with four shadow ministers ready to quit in the coming days and 10 others on "resignation watch".
The Labour leader has faced backlash from several shadow ministers - who sources say are ready to resign, rather than vote against a ceasefire in the Middle East- which Starmer has refused to support.
A Labour official said party leaders were closely watching as many as 15 shadow ministers were likely to quit after the resignation of Imran Hussain. On that note, none are understood to be in the shadow cabinet.
"My position has always been [that] the only way forward is a ceasefire. The pause [as advocated by Starmer] will not solve the problem. Someone needs to say enough is enough," said one Labour frontbencher to The Guardian at the time.
Another said, "I have over 600 emails on this, which is more than any other subject ever, including Brexit and COVID-19… I don’t know a Labour MP who isn’t under pressure now."
Read more: Keir Starmer asked by Labour members to resign over Gaza stance
