Labour frontbenchers are willing to quit en masse or risk dismissal if they vote for an SNP amendment asking for a ceasefire in Gaza today.
Shadow ministers are refusing to support Sir Keir Starmer’s separate proposal, which condemns Israel’s conduct in the war but does not support a ceasefire.
Last night, Labour leaders met with more than a dozen frontbenchers who have called for an end to hostilities in the besieged region, where the IDF has murdered over 11,000 people.
But many are still prepared to put their roles at risk by siding with the SNP, which has lodged a Commons amendment calling on the UK to join the international community in pressing for an immediate ceasefire.
Labour has gone only so far as to back ‘immediate humanitarian pauses’ to let aid in.
Imran Hussain, a levelling up spokesman, quit last week to ‘strongly advocate for a ceasefire’ from the backbenches.
Other frontbenchers have so far chosen to stay in their posts and try to shift the leadership from within.
According to a Labour spokesman, the amendment reflects the party’s concerns about “the lack of hostage release, insufficient aid and utilities getting in and being distributed, the scale of civilian casualties in Gaza, and…violence in the West Bank.”
‘Mass resignations or sackings could occur,’ according to a party source. Frontbenchers look foolish if they have been pushing for a ceasefire yet do not support the proposal.’
Another insider added shadow ministers either ‘want a free vote or for the party to turn round and back a ceasefire’.