All the Labour MPs that supported the Gaza ceasefire motion – as 10 frontbenchers resign
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Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer suffered a major revolt among his own MPs on Wednesday evening when no fewer than 56, including 10 of his frontbenchers, defied the whip to back a Scottish National Party (SNP) amendment to the King’s Speech in the House of Commons calling for an “immediate ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas war.
Labour had tabled its own motion, making a more moderate appeal for a “humanitarian pause” in the conflict and ordered its representatives to support that stance rather than endorse the more drastic position adopted by Stephen Flynn, the SNP’s leader in Westminster.
Sir Keir’s position places him in lockstep with Rishi Sunak’s government and the United States, European Union and United Nations by prioritising Israel’s duty to defend itself in response to the horrific atrocities it suffered in Hamas’s terror attack of 7 October over backing immediate intervention to address the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza.
It also puts him at odds with many members of his own party, including the Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, as well as many others, including the hundreds of protesters who gathered in Parliament Square on Wednesday to lobby for a ceasefire.
The SNP’s amendment was ultimately voted down by 294 to 125, in large part thanks to the Conservative’s majority in the Commons but the rebellion leaves the opposition leader facing a major headache and needing to replace eight members of his shadow cabinet after they left their roles over the dispute.
“I regret that some colleagues felt unable to support the position tonight,” Sir Keir said after the count.
“But I wanted to be clear about where I stood, and where I will stand. Leadership is about doing the right thing. That is the least the public deserves.”
A complete list of the Labour rebels who defied the whip follows below.
Frontbench resignations
Paula Barker
Shadow minister for devolution and the English regions and MP for Liverpool Wavertree
My statement 👇 pic.twitter.com/AhKJkfD9Bn
— Paula Barker MP (@PaulaBarkerMP) November 15, 2023
Rachel Hopkins
Shadow minister for veterans and MP for Luton South
Shadow minister for legal aid of the United Kingdom and MP for Manchester, Gorton
Today, I will be voting for the motion calling on the UK Govt to support a #CeasefireNow in Gaza. With 11,000+ Gazans killed, supporting a full & immediate ceasefire is the very least we can do.
In order to be free to do so, I have stepped down as Shadow Minister for Exports 👇 pic.twitter.com/v78vo4SOq3— Afzal Khan MP (@Afzal4Gorton) November 15, 2023
Sarah Owen
Shadow minister for local government and faith and MP for Luton North
READ📄: our statement on why we voted for a ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/Bse3ijIX6n
— Sarah Owen MP (@SarahOwen_) November 15, 2023
Jess Phillips
Shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding and MP for Birmingham, Yardley
— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) November 15, 2023
Yasmin Qureshi
Shadow minister for international development and MP for Bolton South East
The scale of bloodshed in Gaza is unprecedented. Tonight, I will vote for an immediate ceasefire.
We must call for an end to the carnage to protect innocents lives and end human suffering.
With regret, I have stepped down as Shadow Women and Equalities Minister. pic.twitter.com/ZJUikElfGk— Yasmin Qureshi MP (@YasminQureshiMP) November 15, 2023
Naz Shah
Shadow minister for crime reduction and MP for Bradford West
Today, I voted for an immediate ceasefire.
For the people of Palestine, every minute, every hour, every day we wait is another orphan, another grieving mother and another family wiped out!
We must act now to protect civilian life. pic.twitter.com/7I0Rq7rQZn— Naz Shah MP 💙 (@NazShahBfd) November 15, 2023
Andy Slaughter
Shadow solicitor general and MP for Hammersmith
Dan Carden
Parliamentary private secretary and MP for Liverpool, Walton
Mary Kelly Foy
Parliamentary private secretary and MP for City of Durham
I've voted for a ceasefire, which is backed by the @UN & its agencies, over 700 NGOs, @Pontifex & the majority of the British public - including 100s of my constituents in the City of Durham.
I'll now return to the NE, my dad is very unwell. Please excuse me if I seem quieter.— Mary Kelly Foy MP (@marykfoy) November 15, 2023
Backbench resignations
Tahir Ali
MP for Birmingham, Hall Green
Rosena Allin-Khan
MP for Tooting
Tonight, I will be voting for a ceasefire.
Read my statement below: pic.twitter.com/vRCvNWLNH6— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan (@DrRosena) November 15, 2023
Apsana Begum
MP for Poplar and Limehouse
Clive Betts
MP for Sheffield South East
Paul Blomfield
MP for Sheffield Central
Karen Buck
MP for Westminster North
Richard Burgon
MP for Leeds East
Dawn Butler
MP for Brent Central
It was important for me to put my commitment to a ceasefire on record.
A ceasefire on both sides is the only way to protect civilians, free the hostages and move towards peace in the region.
#CeasefireNOW the Government must listen. pic.twitter.com/h5NJnStpS2— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@DawnButlerBrent) November 15, 2023
Ian Byrne
MP for Liverpool, West Derby
Liam Byrne
MP for Birmingham, Hodge Hill
Sarah Champion
MP for Rotherham
Stella Creasy
MP for Walthamstow
In the coming days the UK can be an effective voice alongside other nations supporting the negotiations already happening for a ceasefire. Any steps that get us closer to that help protect innocent civilians in Israel and Gaza. pic.twitter.com/um66hPhDRt
— stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) November 16, 2023
Jon Cruddas
MP for Dagenham and Rainham
Judith Cummins
MP for Bradford South
Marsha De Cordova
MP for Battersea
Peter Dowd
MP for Bootle
Julie Elliott
MP for Sunderland Central
Barry Gardiner
MP for Brent North
Sir Keir Starmer is attempting to put Labour's position on the Israel-Hamas conflict to a vote, in a bid to maintain party unity.
Barry Gardiner, Labour MP, tells @AmolRajan he is in support of calling for a ceasefire.#R4Today— BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) November 15, 2023
Margaret Greenwood
MP for Wirral West
Fabian Hamilton
MP for Leeds North East
Kate Hollern
MP for Blackburn
Rupa Huq
MP for Ealing Central and Acton
Imran Hussain
Mp for Bradford East
— Imran Hussain MP (@Imran_HussainMP) November 15, 2023
Ian Lavery
MP for Wansbeck
Emma Lewell-Buck
MP for South Shields
Clive Lewis
MP for Norwich South
Rebecca Long-Bailey
MP for Salford and Eccles
Urgent priority must be to stop the deaths and suffering of civilians in Israel and Gaza and to ensure the immediate, unconditional release of the Israeli hostages. I have supported this Amendment to the King's Speech calling for a ceasefire. Tonight I will vote for a ceasefire. pic.twitter.com/Yb0BSqsNmA
— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) November 15, 2023
Khalid Mahmood
MP for Birmingham, Perry Barr
Rachael Maskell
MP for York Central
John McDonnell
MP for Hayes and Harlington
I was proud to walk through the Yes lobby in Parliament with so many of my Labour colleagues to vote for a ceasefire.
— John McDonnell MP (@johnmcdonnellMP) November 15, 2023
Ian Mearns
MP for Gateshead
Grahame Morris
MP for Easington
Kate Osamor
MP for Edmonton
Kate Osborne
MP for Jarrow
Bell Ribeiro-Addy
MP for Streatham
Lloyd Russell-Moyle
MP for Brighton, Kemptown
Cat Smith
MP for Lancaster and Fleetwood
Alex Sobel
MP for Leeds North West
Zarah Sultana
MP for Coventry South
I just voted for an immediate ceasefire to help stop the slaughter of innocent Palestinians in Gaza. My speech: pic.twitter.com/5Wz5yQUVI5
— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) November 15, 2023
Sam Tarry
MP for Ilford South
Stephen Timms
MP for East Ham
Jon Trickett
MP for Hemsworth
Valerie Vaz
MP for Walsall South
Nadia Whittome
MP for Nottingham East
Beth Winter
MP for Cynon Valley
Mohammad Yasin
MP for Bedford