As Israel steps up its ground operations in Gaza, now subject to a complete communications blackout,  former Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell MP says that this is a “critical time for Labour to be leading the call for a ceasefire. As the casualties tragically mount I don’t think we will be forgiven by many of our supporters for not taking a stand and we won’t deserve to be.”

John McDonnell’s warning came on the eve of the third march for Palestine in as many weeks in London. Tomorrow’s demonstration is expected to be even bigger than last Saturday’s 300,000-strong protest.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar are the latest senior Labour figures to break with the leadership’s inhumane line and to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. They were joined today by Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, his Deputy and ten Greater Manchester Labour leaders.

Several Labour Members of the Scottish Parliament and of the Welsh Senedd have also joined the call.

Richard Burgon MP reports that over 100 MPs now back calls for a ceasefire in Gaza. He has tweeted: “95 MPs have backed my parliamentary motion for a ceasefire. Others have demanded it in Parliamentary debates or signed a separate motion.” Richard Burgon’s EDM is here.

UNISON has also called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In a statement issued on October 26^th, the union said, ”The union condemns the rising death toll of Palestinian civilians – especially among children – caused by Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.”

Labour NEC member Mish Rahman has accused Keir Starmer of “gaslighting Muslims on an epic scale.”

In a powerful piece, he writes: “At this dangerous moment we need political leaders with cool heads, honest brokers respected across divides, leaders who seek solutions rather than headlines. It disappoints me to say that Keir Starmer has failed this test.”

He goes on: “A pro-Starmer NEC member waved ‘good riddance’ to a Muslim Oxford councillor, also an NHS doctor who worked through the pandemic, describing her as ‘barely Labour’ and a ‘hack’.”

Referring to the unnamed party official who allegedly responded to Muslims resigning by saying that Labour was “shaking off the fleas”, Rahman says: “What a dehumanising way to talk about Muslim members! It saddens me to say this but it increasingly feels like Labour is not a safe space for Muslims.”

Labour candidate in Chingford Faiza Shaheen has also spoken out: “All these years of being a Muslim in policy research, in politics, in the media, with access to elite circles, has proven to me again and again with hard evidence how little our votes, our opinions and our lives matter.”

And former Shadow Cabinet member Andy McDonald MP has implored “ those in power to rethink their support for Israel’s assault on Gaza, and join me and the vast majority of the British public in calling for an unconditional end to the hostilities.”

Meanwhile Imran Hussain MP is the latest member of the Shadow Cabinet to sign Richard Burgon’s  EDM calling for an immediate ceasefire. Reports suggest that up to four shadow ministers are on “resignation watch”, according to The Times. These include Sarah Owen, the shadow faith minister, and Rachel Hopkins, the shadow Cabinet Office minister.

Starmer will be keen to avoid such resignations from his front bench. When Robin Cook resigned from Tony Blair’s Cabinet in 2003 over its participation in the impending invasion of Iraq, it could have precipitated a major governmental crisis – had others joined him. They did not. Clare Short, who was highly critical of the war, refused to do so, quitting only a couple of months later, after the flashpoint had passed, as Liz Davies recalls in her Labour Hub podcast here (27:56 mins). The Campaign for Labour Party Democracy has produced a Model Emergency Motion in support of an immediate ceasefire

This CLP, concerned about the escalating conflict in the Middle East and the unfolding humanitarian situation in Gaza, supports the call for an immediate ceasefire.

We urge our Party’s front bench to give its full support to this call for an immediate ceasefire and to press the government to do likewise.

We also urge all Labour MPs to sign the Early Day Motion 1685, in support of an immediate cessation of hostilities.

CLPD notes on the above motion

It ought to be possible to discuss the above motion at Branches and CLPs. A Party spokesman recently said: “Clearly this is an issue that people have got strong views on, and will want to have a discussion around” and suggested that a recent memo sent to local parties by the Party’s General Secretary related to “concerns about the way in which the debate is being had” (See this Labour List article).

Some CLPs have discussed and agreed to support the call for a ceasefire. Some other CLPs have been told they cannot. Again see this Labour List article. An official has suggested that a motion backing a ceasefire “does not explicitly” breach guidance in itself, but there might be an issue about the contributions made by those speaking in the discussion on the motion. Those speaking in such discussions should take note of this official’s suggestions.

The General Secretaries memo, referred to in Note 1 above, can be read here. Labour List’s report on it is here.

The recently agreed National Policy Forum report, which contains the Party’s policy programme, is also clear and makes the commitment that: “With a deteriorating security situation and the lack of a meaningful peace process between Israel and Palestine, a future Labour government will lead diplomatic efforts with international partners to support a just and lasting peace and uphold international law as a matter of priority.” Labour’s support for international law should be upheld now.