Coventry South MP calls for "ceasefire to end the bloodshed" in Israel and Gaza
Zarah Sultana says ministers need to "do the right thing"
Last updated 9th Nov 2023
A local Coventry MP has called for ministers to "finally do the right thing" and support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Zarah Sultana, the Labour MP for Coventry South, urged ministers to "finally do what is right and demand an immediate ceasefire to end the bloodshed".
She told the Commons: "More than 10,000 Palestinians have been slaughtered in Israel's assault, nearly half of whom are children. It would take nearly six hours to read the names and ages of every child killed so far but this horror has been given the green light by this Government.
"So today (8 November) I tabled an amendment to the King's Speech calling for an immediate ceasefire, a move backed by 76% of the British public."
The amendment to the King's Speech debate was backed by leading figures from the Labour left, including John McDonnell and Rebecca Long-Bailey, as well as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.
It claims the legislative agenda set out in the speech "fails to include measures to ensure the Government upholds international humanitarian law and protect civilians in Israel and Palestine".
Ms Sultana said: "I ask the minister: will the Government finally do what is right and demand an immediate ceasefire to end the bloodshed?"
Foreign Office minister Andrew Mitchell said: "While she is eloquent on the effects, she is not so eloquent, in my opinion, on the causes."
Ministers have faced calls for some time now to back a total ceasefire in the Middle East - with 11 Labour councillors stepping away from the party following Sir Keir Starmer's lack of concrete commitment to it.
This includes Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East.
He said he was quitting his role as shadow minister for the new deal for working people to be able to "strongly advocate" for a ceasefire.
At least 16 shadow ministers have either called for a ceasefire or shared others' calls on social media while around 30 councillors have resigned.