The UK Parliament rejected a motion presented by the Scottish National Party (SNP) calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza conflict. The amendment, part of the King’s Speech, sought to urge London to join the global call for an urgent cessation of hostilities.
However, with 125 MPs in favor and 293 against, both the ruling Conservatives and the main opposition Labour Party leadership indicated their opposition.
Labour proposed its own motion, advocating for humanitarian “pauses” and asserting that an immediate ceasefire might undermine Israel’s “right to self-defense.”
Despite the official party stance, several Labour MPs, including 19 frontbenchers, expressed conflicting views. Shadow minister Imran Hussain resigned to advocate for an immediate ceasefire.
Labour instructed its MPs to abstain from voting on the motion, leading to resignations from the shadow cabinet, including Naz Shah, Helen Hayes, Afzal Khan, Sarah Owen, Rachel Hopkins, Andy Slaughter, Dan Carden, Mary Foy, and Paula Barker. Yasmin Qureshi resigned as shadow women and equalities minister, and Jess Phillips stepped down from the Labour frontbench, citing the need to align with her constituents’ views.
After the vote, Labour leader Keir Starmer defended his position in a statement, expressing regret that some colleagues couldn’t support the stance but emphasizing the importance of leadership in doing the right thing for the public.
