Eight Labour frontbenchers, including Jess Phillips, have resigned after defying Keir Starmer to vote for a ceasefire in Gaza. Overall, 56 Labour MPs backed the Scottish National party amendment to the King’s Speech, dealing a significant blow to the Labour leader’s efforts to maintain party unity on the Israel-Hamas war.
Phillips, Afzal Khan, Yasmin Qureshi, and Paula Barker quit their frontbench roles on Wednesday night, while Rachel Hopkins, Sarah Owen, Naz Shah, and Andy Slaughter were sacked by Starmer after the vote. Mary Foy and Dan Carden, both parliamentary private secretaries, also left their positions.
In her resignation letter, Phillips said it was with a "heavy heart" that she was leaving her post in the shadow Home Office team, adding: "On this occasion I must vote with my constituents, my head, and my heart which has felt as if it were breaking… I can see no route where the current military action does anything but put at risk the hope of peace and security."
Starmer expressed regret that colleagues had not backed his position, stating: "Leadership is about doing the right thing… I have called throughout for adherence to international law, for humanitarian pauses to allow access for aid, food, water, utilities and medicine." The Labour leader had hoped to avert rebellion with a separate amendment criticising Israel but stopping short of a ceasefire.
Naz Shah told the Commons: "Our values push us to do better… it is a matter of conscience to step away from our closest ally in the interests of peace… The question is not if there will be a ceasefire but when. For the people of Palestine, every minute is another orphan, another grieving mother." The SNP amendment was rejected 293 to 125.
