Keir Starmer is at risk of the biggest rebellion of his leadership as Labour MPs urge him not to whip them against voting for an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The vote, scheduled for Wednesday, could see more than the 56 MPs who rebelled in November, including eight frontbenchers.
Labour whips have yet to decide their approach, but several MPs warn of another damaging internal row if they oppose the motion. The Scottish Labour party voted in favour of an immediate ceasefire over the weekend, while Starmer has stopped short of backing that position, instead calling for an end to the fighting.
One Labour MP said the rebellion could be 'far more than the 56 who [rebelled] last time, especially given the Scottish Labour position and how many more MPs are really under pressure on this now.' Another MP expressed hope that the party would avoid repeating the same situation.
The Middle East crisis has tested Starmer's leadership, with criticism over his initial defence of Israel's military action after the 7 October attack. In November, he suffered the largest rebellion since becoming leader when dozens of MPs defied orders to vote for a similar SNP motion.
Last week, Starmer suspended two Labour candidates for derogatory remarks about Israel, but faced accusations of acting too slowly. The SNP is seeking to reopen Labour's divisions with Wednesday's motion, though the Labour leadership has since shifted its stance, including calling for a ceasefire.
Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said Israel had gone 'beyond reasonable self-defence' in Gaza, adding that the party wants a ceasefire and is concerned about the disproportionate loss of civilian life. However, he noted that the leadership has not yet decided how to approach the vote, saying, 'We'll see what the final motion looks like.'
