Sir Keir Starmer will stage a showdown vote in parliament today calling for a humanitarian pause in Gaza in a bid to force Labour rebels who want a ceasefire to back his stance.
The Labour leader’s Commons motion will criticize Israel’s conduct and mourn the “insufficient aid” getting into the strip, but it will not support a ceasefire.
Sir Keir is attempting to head off an embarrassing rebellion by Labour MPs, with the SNP likely to secure its own vote calling for a ceasefire as an amendment to the King’s Speech.
More than 65 Labour MPs – including 18 Labour frontbenchers – have defied Sir Keir’s position. Almost 50 councillors have quit the party and more than 330 local leaders have urged him to change position.
The Labour leadership will put forward its own amendment to the King’s Speech to give his MPs a say and attempt to force unity, a party spokesperson said.
Labour insiders have indicated that if frontbenchers defy the leader’s position and vote with the SNP, they would have to quit or face the sack.
The spokesperson said: “Labour’s amendment reaffirms the position set out in Keir Starmer’s Chatham House speech and reflects our concerns about what we’ve seen on the ground in the last fortnight.”
This story is from the November 15, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the November 15, 2023 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
STOLEN MOMENTS
The antics of the gentleman thief in EW Hornung's 'Raffles' bring Anthony Quinn as much joy as when he was a child.
Can Glaser give Hollywood the roasting it deserves?
The stand-up comedian's close-to-the-bone comedy makes Nikki Glaser the ideal choice to host tomorrow's Golden Globes. Move over, Ricky Gervais, writes Kevin E G Perry
'I'd just turned 18... I don't think I was remotely sexy'
Little Mix's Jade Thirlwall is newly solo with a debut electropop hit to her name. She talks to Annabel Nugent about the downside of fame and how she's never feared 'clapping back'
The disruptor: why Musk is a risk to German democracy
The tech billionaire's move to support the AfD is proof he is determined to unsettle a nation that knows all too well what far-right dictatorship can bring, writes John Kampfner
Slot turns transfer saga into surprise Liverpool benefit
Arne Slot has claimed that the saga about Trent AlexanderArnold's future is helpful to him as it prevents his Liverpool players from being overloaded with praise that could make them complacent.
United 'are starving for leaders', admits Amorim
When Ruben Amorim got to convey good news, it still came with a demand.
Still a teenager but there are few weaknesses in his game
Whether he beat or lost to Michael van Gerwen on the Alexandra Palace stage on Friday night, Luke Littler was al going to leave his second World Darts Championship as a winner.
Littler makes history after winning world title aged 17
Darts has a new world champion, and he's a 17-year-old boy from Warrington.
The hot UK industry that could be facing a wipeout
Don't tell Liam and Noel, but the biggest entertainment event of 2025 won't be their reunion, it'll be the launch of Grand Theft Auto VI.
Taxes to rise again despite growth, warn economists
A group of economists have warned that the Treasury is likely to raise taxes even further this year, despite an expectation that the country will return to growth in 2025.
