‘A race to the bottom for politics’: British Muslim and Palestinian groups criticise Commons chaos

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British Muslim and Palestinian organisations have criticised the “disgraceful” House of Commons session which descended into chaos over the Gaza ceasefire debate.

The controversy was sparked when Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle broke conference to enable MPs to vote on a Labour modification to the SNP’s Gaza ceasefire movement, sparking anger which has resulted in additional than 60 MPs voting a no-confidence movement in opposition to him.

As the uproar in Westminster continues, organisations pushing for a right away ceasefire have accused parliament of dropping sight of the conflict by means of political video games, as Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry estimates greater than 29,000 Palestinians have been killed throughout the battle.

More than half of Gaza’s inhabitants of two.3 million is crowded into Rafah after fleeing preventing and bombardment elsewhere in the territory.

Zara Mohammed, secretary-general of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) mentioned Wednesday’s spectacle signalled “a race to the bottom for politics in Britain”.

She informed The Independent: “It was deeply disappointing that we did not have a united House of Commons over such an important issue for so many communities. We did not have a vote which reflected what the people were calling for.

“Many British Muslims have expressed how they see double standards in politics. Britain is a key player on the international stage – what people are really at a loss with is why our government is not utilising its power.”

Ben Jamal, director of Palestine Solidarity Campaign mentioned: “Political leaders are playing parliamentary games with people’s lives, trying all sorts of manouevres and rouses to try to prevent an immediate ceasefire- a matter that the world’s highest court is currently investigating as genocide.”

Mr Jamal added it’s integral MPs “immediately construct whatever opportunity is available to return to a very clear vote for a ceasefire”.

Hundreds queued up for hours exterior the Commons all through the day on Wednesday to foyer MPs to again a ceasefire. Demonstrators held banners saying: “Blood is on your hands” as a protest happened in the night.

Mr Jamal mentioned: “The scenes were utterly disgraceful and shamed our parliament, but what didn’t shame Britain was the moral clarity of those who turned up to lobby.”

Azhar Qayum, chief government officer of Muslime Engagement and Development, mentioned: “Last night in the Commons was a farce. The speaker, the Labour Leadership and, to some extent, the Tories conspired to ensure no MP could vote on a clear motion by the SNP on an immediate ceasefire.

“The SNP only have three opposition days and used one of the three for Gaza. If the Labour Party wanted a Gaza motion they should have used one of their 17 opposition days to put one forward. Instead, they sabotaged the SNP’s opposition day motion with a watered down version of their own.”

Liberal Democrat MP Layla Moran, whose mom is Palestinian, posted on X: “Yesterday could have been an opportunity to push the government, who has the ear of Netanyahu and Biden to push them to have a resolution for the people of Palestine and Israel. But instead, everyone was playing party politics with Palestinian lives.”

Labour’s Zarah Sultana MP mentioned: “When Parliament needed to rise to the moment, it instead descended into farce. My constituents, the British public, and of course the Palestinian people, bombed and besieged in Gaza, desperately want an immediate ceasefire. That’s what all MPs must be demanding.”