Keir Starmer is under intensifying pressure over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war after Labour London mayor Sadiq Khan and the party’s leader in Scotland both called for a ceasefire.
Some 49 Labour MPs – almost a quarter of the 199 Labour members in parliament – have now defied the leader’s position and publicly called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The party’s MPs have also been offered security advice, as they come under pressure from their constituents over Sir Keir’s comments on the conflict.
Joining the rebels in a statement on Twitter / X, Mr Khan said: “Thousands of innocent civilians have already been killed in Israel and Gaza. With the humanitarian crisis set to deteriorate even further, I’m calling for a ceasefire.”
Labour’s London mayor said a ceasefire would “stop the killing” and “allow vital aid supplies to reach those who need it in Gaza” in a video message.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has also called for a ceasefire in a video on social media, saying: “We are all so desperate for peace and are desperate to see the end of violence…
“The immediate cessation of violence, with an end of rocket fire into and out of Gaza. And let me be clear, that means a ceasefire right now.”
Sir Keir has joined Rishi Sunak in backing “humanitarian pauses” to deliver aid to Gaza as it faces airstrikes from Israel ahead of a ground invasion, but has not backed the longer-lasting ceasefire.
The Labour leader is still trying to ease anger within the party about appearing to back the cutting of power and water in Gaza in an LBC interview a few days after the Hamas terror attack.It is understood the mayor spoke to Sir Keir before he made the ceasefire call.
Labour frontbencher Steve Reed defended Sir Keir’s position on Friday – insisting that doing the “right” thing was the priority rather than worrying about votes.
Asked if the row could have an impact at the ballot box, the shadow environment secretary told LBC: “I think (it) won’t because and the reason I think that is in politics, you should do the right thing, not the electorally expedient thing.”
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer met with his party’s Muslim MPs (Joe Giddens/PA)
(PA Wire)
But senior Labour MP Rosena Allin-Khan, the former shadow minister for mental health, put further pressure on Sir Keir to demand a ceasefire.
“Of course Israel has the right to defend itself … But what we are seeing in retaliation is collective punishment of the Palestinian people,” she told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme.
In an apparently conciliatory response, a Labour Party spokesperson said: “Of course, we understand why people want to call for a ceasefire. The Palestinian people are not Hamas, and they are suffering terribly. That’s why we support humanitarian pauses so that aid, fuel, water electricity and medicines can urgently get to those who need it.
“We also have to recognise Israel was subject to a vile terrorist attack. Israel has a right and a duty to defend itself, rescue the hostages and stop Hamas from being able to carry out that sort of terrorist attack ever again.
“Hamas are currently firing rockets into Israel and have built the infrastructure, including tunnels, from which to carry out further attacks, so that military operation is ongoing. That must be done within international law and aid must get in quickly, safely, and regularly to halt a humanitarian disaster.”
The row intensified as Labour chief whip Alan Campbell wrote to the party’s MPs to offer security advice, acknowledging that they “may have heightened security concerns”.
Mr Campbell said Labour MPs should take special care if attending any “protests and demonstrations” about the Gaza conflict.
Around 40 Labour MPs are believed to have signed an early day motion by Bradford East MP Imran Hussain calling for a ceasefire. Several more have publicly backed a ceasefire.
And more than 250 Muslim Labour councillors urged Sir Keir and deputy leader Angela Rayner to back an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza – with his original comments on LBC also sparking resignations from several councillors.
Up to four members of the shadow cabinet said to be on resignation watch over the issue. Sarah Owen, the shadow minister for faith, and Rachel Hopkins, shadow Cabinet Office minister, are among the frontbenchers considering whether to quit, according to The Times.
Keir Starmer visited the South Wales Islamic Centre mosque
(Labour Party)
Frontbencher Yasmin Qureshi, a shadow equalities minister, also defied the leadership by calling for a ceasefire at PMQs this week. A Labour spokesperson did not say whether she would be disciplined.
Sir Keir was forced to hold crunch talks with a group of Muslim Labour MPs to address anger at his handling of the crisis – including comments in which he appeared to back the cutting of power and water to Gaza.
It was not until 20 October that he sought to clarify his position. “I was saying that Israel has the right to self-defence,” he told broadcasters. “I was not saying that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines.”
One veteran Labour MP told The Independent that Sir Keir’s initial comments on the conflict were “not in any way acceptable”, but said he had not fully “recognised” the mistake.
The South Wales Islamic Centre also accused Sir Keir this week of “gravely misrepresenting” his talks with Muslim leaders during a visit to the mosque at the weekend.
The Labour leader sparked frustration after he shared photos of the meeting on X, arguing that he had “made clear it is not and has never been my view that Israel had the right to cut off water, food, fuel or medicines”.
