Labour MP Jess Phillips Resigns From Frontbench in Dramatic Move Following Election Date Announcement
Labour MP Jess Phillips resigns from shadow frontbench

In a stunning political development, Labour MP Jess Phillips has dramatically resigned from her frontbench position just hours after Rishi Sunak called the next general election for July 4th.

The Birmingham Yardley MP stepped down as shadow minister for domestic violence and safeguarding during an emotional interview on Times Radio, revealing she could no longer support the party's stance on the Middle East conflict.

Dramatic Radio Announcement

Phillips made the surprise announcement live on air, telling listeners: "I have to stand by what I believe in. I can't go through another election pretending we've got it right on this issue."

The resignation comes at a critical moment for Labour, with party leader Sir Keir Starmer aiming to present a united front ahead of the summer election campaign.

Middle East Policy at Heart of Decision

While Phillips didn't specify the exact nature of her disagreement, sources close to the MP suggest it relates to Labour's position on the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the party's approach to ceasefire calls.

Phillips has been increasingly vocal about humanitarian concerns in the region, creating tension with the party leadership in recent months.

Political Shockwaves

The timing of Phillips' departure sends shockwaves through Westminster, with Labour now facing internal divisions at the worst possible moment politically.

Fellow Birmingham MP Shabana Mahmood, who serves as Labour's national campaign coordinator, now faces the challenging task of managing campaign unity while dealing with this high-profile resignation.

Background of Service

Jess Phillips has been the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley since 2015 and has built a reputation as a passionate campaigner on women's rights and domestic violence issues.

Her departure from the shadow frontbench represents a significant loss to Labour's domestic policy team and leaves a gap in their expertise on safeguarding matters.

The Labour Party has yet to announce a replacement for Phillips' shadow ministerial role as the election campaign officially begins.