UK MP quits over labour party's stand on Israel-Hamas war

In order to “be able to strongly advocate for a ceasefire” in Gaza, Imran Hussain, the shadow minister, has resigned from Keir Starmer’s Labour frontbench in the UK. Hussain wrote Starmer a resignation letter that was made public on social media, stating, “Over the past few weeks, it has become evident that my view on the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza differs substantially from the position you have adopted.” “The bloodshed must stop in order for enough aid to enter Gaza and reach those in need, for the safe return of the Israeli hostages to be ensured, and for there to be a ceasefire.” He claimed he was “proud” to have collaborated with Sir Keir and his deputy, Angela Rayner, on creating a plan for employment rights, but he was unable to push for an end to hostilities while sitting in the frontbench “in all good conscience.” The Labour MP for Bradford East, who served as a shadow minister for work, expressed his “deep trouble” over Starmer’s remarks made in an LBC interview on October 11, saying that although the party leader had since clarified his remarks, “I believe the party needs to go further and call for a ceasefire.” “I have unequivocally condemned Hamas’s attacks of 7 October and I firmly agree that every country has the right to defend itself. This however can never become a right to deliberately violate international law on protecting civilians or to commit war crimes,” he wrote. Starmer has maintained that a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict would immobilize the status quo and that this is untenable in light of Hamas’s declared goal to launch repeated strikes following its murder of 1,400 people on October 7. The head of Labour has echoed the White House’s call for humanitarian ceasefires so that aid could reach Gaza. Labour supports Israel and Palestine having two states. In protest of Starmer’s failure to support a ceasefire, the Labour leader of Burnley Borough Council resigned along with ten other council members; at least 330 Labour council members have signed a letter pleading with Starmer to support a ceasefire. Prominent Labour figures who have questioned Starmer’s position include Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar, and London Mayor Sadiq Khan. On social media, 16 Labour frontbenchers—including Yasmin Qureshi and Jess Phillips—as well as one-third of the party’s parliamentary delegation have either called for or shared calls for a ceasefire. The Labour leadership has made an effort to take a more firm stance on Israel. Following his visit to the area, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said that the “number of dead Palestinian civilians and children is shocking” and urged Israel to take further action to avert a “humanitarian catastrophe,” including pausing hostilities.