Liverpool Wavertree MP resigns from Labour front bench
Paula Barker has resigned as a shadow minister, to vote for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East.
Last updated 16th Nov 2023
Sir Keir Starmer has lost eight frontbenchers after he suffered a major rebellion in a Commons vote calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Four shadow ministers, including Liverpool Wavertree MP Paula Barker, quit on Wednesday evening after deciding to support an SNP amendment to the King's Speech backing a ceasefire.
She released the following statement on 'X':
MPs voted 293 to 125, majority 168, to reject the SNP's King's Speech amendment calling for "all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire" in Gaza.
But 56 Labour MPs backed the position, rejecting their party leader's stance.
Labour MPs had been ordered to abstain on the SNP move and were told instead to back Sir Keir's position calling for longer "humanitarian pauses" rather than a ceasefire.
In a statement following the vote, Sir Keir said he regretted that party colleagues had not backed his position.
"Alongside leaders around the world, I have called throughout for adherence to international law, for humanitarian pauses to allow access for aid, food, water, utilities and medicine, and have expressed our concerns at the scale of civilian casualties.
"Much more needs to be done in this regard to ease the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in Gaza.
"And in addition to addressing the present, every leader has a duty not to go back to a failed strategy of containment and neglect, but to forge a better and more secure future for both Palestinians and Israelis.
"I regret that some colleagues felt unable to support the position tonight. But I wanted to be clear about where I stood, and where I will stand."
Merseyside Labour MPs Kim Johnson, Mick Whitley and Ian Byrne are amongthose who signed the amendment, calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.