Keir Starmer under growing pressure to back immediate Gaza ceasefire as Momentum launches campaign

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Sir Keir Starmer is under growing pressure to back an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as left-wing organisation Momentum relaunches a mass e mail campaign concentrating on MPs forward of a crunch Commons vote this week.

The grassroots group is planning a “lobbying blitz”, encouraging folks to name on Labour MPs to back the SNP’s modification demanding an immediate ceasefire.

The situation, to be debated on Wednesday, has turn into one of many biggest challenges for the Labour chief and comes three months after a 3rd of his MPs rebelled in opposition to the occasion whip over an identical name.

Momentum supporters flooded Labour MPs with greater than 5,000 emails in November, and the group is urging folks to do the identical this week.

The campaign comes simply days after Scottish Labour’s convention unanimously backed an immediate ceasefire, with Scottish Labour chief Anas Sarwar declaring himself happy with the vote and calling the SNP’s modification “perfectly reasonable”.

Speaking on the convention, Sir Keir endorsed a everlasting ending of hostilities in Gaza, however stopped in need of calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Shadow well being secretary Wes Streeting stated Labour was contemplating whether or not to back the SNP modification. Speaking to Talk TV, he stated Labour would see what the ultimate movement regarded like however added that the occasion wouldn’t be pushed round by protesters or political opponents.

In November, when the occasion resisted requires a everlasting ceasefire, 10 frontbenchers resigned their roles, whereas 56 Labour MPs – round a 3rd of the occasion – voted in opposition to the whip.

Jess Phillips resigned her shadow cupboard place to back the modification, stating: “I am taking a position with my heart, my head, and my constituents.”

Since then, the Palestinian demise toll has risen to almost 30,000, together with greater than 10,000 youngsters, in accordance to official figures from Palestine’s Hamas-run well being ministry.

Last month, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dominated that Israel’s conflict on Gaza may plausibly represent a genocide, and ordered the nation to take obligatory precautionary motion.

The UN particular rapporteur on the occupied territories, Francesca Albanese, has stated that Israel seems to be in breach of the orders issued by the ICJ requiring it to take immediate steps to defend Palestinians’ rights.

The battle in Gaza has break up the Labour Party and induced some Muslim voters to withdraw their assist. More than 50 Labour councillors have resigned from the occasion over Sir Keir’s stance on Gaza, with the occasion dropping its majority on 4 councils.

A YouGov ballot has proven that two-thirds (66 per cent) of the general public back an immediate ceasefire, together with greater than 80 per cent of Labour voters.

Prominent Labour figures together with Sadiq Khan, Andy Burnham and Mr Sarwar have all backed an immediate ceasefire, alongside Labour’s affiliated commerce unions, the TUC, and quite a few Labour councils.

Momentum is encouraging its members to pressure these MPs to “vote with their conscience” and back the SNP modification.

Some Labour MPs have already come out in assist of the modification. Beth Winter, the MP for Cynon Valley, stated on Twitter/X that the occasion “must support an immediate ceasefire”.

”I agree with Anas Sarwar,” she stated. “The ceasefire motion before parliament is positive. We can’t afford two political parties having a go at each other when what matters is the lives of people in Israel and Palestine. We must support an immediate ceasefire.”

Mary Foy, the MP for Durham, has additionally known as for a ceasefire. Posting on X, she introduced that she wouldn’t have the opportunity to vote for the modification on Wednesday as a result of she had suffered a bereavement, however that she had “every intention of participating in the opposition day debate on Wednesday and voting for an immediate ceasefire”.

Hilary Schan, the co-chair of Momentum, stated it was “vital that every Labour MP votes for an immediate end of the bloodshed” on Wednesday.

“Every day we witness more horrific atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza – and it has to stop. Simply put, that means an immediate ceasefire and an end to Israel’s brutal war. With the government continuing to give cover to Israel, it’s vital that every Labour MP votes for an immediate end to the bloodshed when given a choice on Wednesday,” she stated.

She added: “We must use every avenue to exert pressure for peace. History will not look kindly on those who fail to do the right thing.”

Labour has been approached for remark.