Seventy-five MPs have now signed Richard Burgon’s EDM calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Nearly half of Labour’s backbenchers have endorsed the call, including many not on the left of the Party, including Stephen Timms, Liam Byrne, Tony Lloyd, Mohammad Yasin, Rupa Huq, Sarah Champion, Debbie Abrahams and Jon Cruddas.
Jess Phillips MP has demanded the Prime Minister condemn Israeli war crimes. Labour MPs privately pressuring the Labour leadership on the issue are reported to include Lou Haigh, Shabana Mahmood and Wes Streeting.
Thousands of Labour supporters have used Momentum’s lobbying tool to demand its MPs and leadership back a ceasefire. Internationally, the Spanish Prime Minister, the UN Secretary-General and the French Government are backing a ceasefire.
More than two dozen Labour Councillors have now resigned and many more have written furious letters to Keir Starmer opposing his position. Labour has now lost its majority on Oxford city council following several resignations.
Nine members of Glasgow Kelvin CLP have resigned their positions on the local Party’s Executive Committee, as Vince Mills explains here.
In Wales, the outgoing Executive Committee of Ceredigion Constituency Labour Party has issued a “strong rebuke” to Keir Starmer over his stance on the conflict. Nottingham Labour have issued a statement asserting that what Israel Is doing in Gaza constitutes collective punishment.
Starmer does not appear to be particularly bothered by the human rights implications of his statements on Gaza, but he might be worried about the negative impact on the UK Muslim vote, which Labour all too often takes for granted. His advisors organised a photo opportunity for him at the South Wales Islamic Centre. The local imam was evidently unaware that the visit was to be exploited for propaganda and public relations purposes and was upset that he had been used in this cynical way, particularly in light of Starmer’s earlier remarks in support of Israel’s tactics.
An estimated 300,000 people marched in London in support of Palestinian rights on Saturday, where a number of powerful speeches were made, including one by embattled Labour MP Apsana Begum. A further protest has been called for Saturday October 28th at midday at Victoria Embankment.
Latest polling suggests that the Labour leadership’s stubborn opposition to a ceasefire is supported by only 3% of Labour voters. The demands for a ceasefire, an end to the siege of Caza and unfettered access of medical supplies, food, fuel, electricity and water are not just morally right – they are overwhelmingly popular. That fact alone might help shift the position of those MPs who worry about their re-election more than anything else.
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