Keir Starmer faces the prospect of further resignations from Labour's frontbench unless he alters his policy on Gaza, following the largest rebellion of his leadership. Ten frontbenchers resigned or were sacked after voting for a Scottish National Party motion calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Sources indicate that several loyalists who retained their posts are frustrated with how the issue has been handled and would resign if Starmer does not push the government to take a firmer stance against Israeli military action. One source said: 'We’ve been warning for weeks that the party was getting its messaging wrong on Gaza. Many of us stayed in the end, not to keep our jobs but to continue to push for change from the inside.'
Rushanara Ali, a Muslim frontbencher who backed the party line, stated: 'Leaving the shadow government is something I am always willing to do, which is why I completely respect the decisions taken by my fellow MPs today. The moment I feel my presence is less positively impactful than my absence, I will do so.'
The SNP motion, introduced as an amendment to the King's Speech, saw 56 Labour MPs defy orders to abstain. Jess Phillips, a high-profile shadow minister who resigned, said: 'I have to use my voice to try and wherever possible, move a dial. And look, I think this dial will move. I think that it won’t be too long before the US and the UK feel that the military action is achieving nothing.'
Starmer now faces a difficult task in replacing the departed frontbenchers, given nearly half of his backbenchers rebelled. Anger at Labour's position was visible in east London, where hundreds protested outside Ali's constituency office. Some Labour sources believe the issue could cost the party up to 10 seats in marginal areas, particularly among Muslim voters and young progressives.
