Overnight, Keir Starmer suffered his first shadow minister resignation over his position on Gaza. Imran Hussain has quit as shadow minister for the New Deal for Working People over his desire to ‘strongly advocate for a ceasefire’ in Gaza.
While Hussain used a statement to insist that he remains committed to Labour’s agenda more generally, he said that his view on what is currently happening in Gaza differs ‘substantially’ from the Labour leader’s position. He wants to now be a ‘strong advocate’ for calling for a ceasefire: ‘It is clear that I cannot sufficiently, in all good conscience, do this from the front bench given its current position’.
Labour MPs with large Muslim communities in their constituencies are feeling the greatest pressure
While over a third of Labour MPs have publicly voiced support for a ceasefire, Starmer has argued this would be the wrong move at this moment in time. Instead he has called for a ‘humanitarian pause’ to allow aid into Gaza.
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