Today: 15 October 2025
16 November 2023
2 mins read

Labour lawmakers defy Starmer on Gaza  

A large protest by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign outside parliament demanding lawmakers back a ceasefire took place while the vote was going on…reports Asian Lite News

British opposition Labour leader Keir Starmer was under pressure on Wednesday after 56 of his lawmakers, including several of his policy team, voted with another opposition party to demand the government call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The so-called amendment — a proposed addition to the government’s legislative agenda for the next year — to call for a ceasefire in the violence did not pass and so will not become law. But the backing of so many Labour lawmakers showed the levels of disquiet in the party over the Middle East conflict.

Nearly a third of Labour’s 198 lawmakers backed the amendment introduced by the Scottish National Party which said: “(We) call on the government to join with the international community in urgently pressing all parties to agree to an immediate cease-fire.”

Starmer, like Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the United States and the European Union, has called for “humanitarian pauses” to help aid reach Gaza rather than a cease-fire which, they say, would allow Hamas to regroup after its attack on Oct. 7.

Eight members of Starmer’s ‘shadow’ ministerial team left their roles in order to defy the party position.

“On this occasion I must vote with my constituents, my head and my heart,” Jess Phillips, who resigned from her policy role to vote for a cease-fire, said in a letter to Starmer posted on the social media platform X.

“I can see no route where the current military action does anything but put at risk the hope of peace and security for anyone in the region now and in the future.”

It was a blow to Starmer, who is keen to present his party as united, disciplined and ready for power before a national election expected next year which Labour is on target to win, according to opinion polls.

“I regret that some colleagues felt unable to support the position tonight. But I wanted to be clear about where I stood, and where I will stand,” Starmer said after the vote.

Several lawmakers in Britain’s parliament have been pressing Starmer and Sunak to call for a ceasefire to end Israel’s siege of Gaza, where more than 11,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of war over a month ago.

A large protest by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign outside parliament demanding lawmakers back a ceasefire took place while the vote was going on.

Starmer had put forward a rival amendment, toughening the party’s position to say humanitarian pauses “must be longer to deliver humanitarian assistance … a necessary step to an enduring cessation of fighting as soon as possible.”

That amendment was backed by 183 lawmakers, with 290 voting against it.

ALSO READ-UN Passes Humanitarian Pause Resolution for Gaza

Previous Story

Weather Alert: Low Pressure Over Bay of Bengal Turns Depression

Next Story

Church of England backs services for gay couples

Latest from -Top News

India wins unopposed seat on UNHRC

India last served on the HRC in 2024, completing a second consecutive term….reports Asian Lite News India has been elected unopposed to the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) for the seventh time,

Relief Rolls In, Restrictions Remain in Gaza

Israeli official noted an Israeli statement saying it would limit the number of aid truckloads entering the Gaza Strip to 300 daily…reports Asian Lite News Relief operations in Gaza have intensified since

‘A Day to Rejoice’

In its statement, British Friends of Israel saluted the courage and resilience of the hostages and expressed deep sorrow for those who did not survive captivity After 737 days of anguish, the

UK to Lead Gaza Rebuild

PM announces an additional £20 million aid package aimed at providing essential water, sanitation and hygiene services to tens of thousands of people Prime Minister Keir Starmer attended the signing ceremony of

UK to host summit on Gaza recovery plan

The three-day conference, beginning Monday afternoon, will take place at Wilton Park, the Foreign Office’s policy forum based in West Sussex The UK will host an international summit on the recovery and
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Truce Extends As Hostage Swap Continues

Israel says it is willing to continue the ceasefire “as

 ‘Operation Chivalrous Knight 3’ gives ambulance

The Palestinian Ministry of Health expressed its gratitude to the