Gaza ceasefire vote in hours exposes awkward choices for Labour after Starmer’s major shift to head off revolt
SIR Keir Starmer is battling to head off a Labour rebellion ahead of a major Commons vote on a ceasefire in Gaza this afternoon.
The opposition chief toughened his party’s stance on the Israel-Hamas war and called for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” ahead of the vote.
Labour rebels were gearing up to side with an SNP motion calling for the war to end now.
But in a bid to quash a revolt, Sir Keir tabled an amendment which for the first time called for an instant laying down of weapons, alongside the release of all hostages.
The opposition chief’s amendment was welcomed by the majority of his party.
But some MPs fear it may not be called by the speaker for a vote – leaving Labour backbenchers with the choice of abstaining or joining the SNP.
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The SNP’s motion accuses the Israeli government of imposing “collective punishment” on the Palestinians, while Labour emphasise that a ceasefire must be observed by both Israel and Hamas in order to work.
The Tories have tabled their own amendment, which calls for an immediate pause in the fighting, which should then lead to a “sustainable ceasefire”.
Labour has so far refused to say how MPs will be whipped if its amendment isn’t selected.
This morning Shadow International Development Secretary Lisa Nandy urged politicians across the Commons to back Labour’s amendment.
She insisted MPs “will have missed an opportunity to put forward a serious proposal that allies Britain with our international allies and enables us all to speak with one voice at this critical moment”.
Ms Nandy slammed the SNP for refusing to discuss the wording of its motion with Labour beforehand,
She told Sky News: “If they wanted to put a proposition before the House that all parties could have voted for, they could have discussed it with us, I think they would have chosen very different language.”
Ministers accused Labour and the SNP of playing petty party politics at the expense of serious international relations.
Health Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “It’s a shame that such an enormous international event is being now rather overtaken by some parliamentary handling problems for the Leader of the Opposition.
“We the Government have put an amendment down because we are clear we have this consistent policy in Gaza and towards Israel.”
She added: “We are not interested in frankly pretty politically naive parliamentary procedures that Labour and others seem to be indulging in.”
Commons ceasefire vote - what are the different parties calling for?
The rival proposals submitted to MPs are:
– The original SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages held by Hamas and “an end to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people”.
– Labour’s amendment calling for an immediate ceasefire, emphasising this involves both sides agreeing to lay down their arms and the return of all hostages taken by Hamas, and calling for a diplomatic process for achieving a two-state solution and a lasting peace.
– The Government amendment saying ministers want an “immediate humanitarian pause” in the fighting before supporting “moves towards a permanent sustainable ceasefire” that involves Hamas freeing all hostages and relinquishing control of Gaza, and international efforts to create a two-state solution.
– A Liberal Democrat amendment calling for an “immediate bilateral ceasefire”, the release of hostages and a two-state solution with Hamas not in power.