Israel war: frontbench Labour MP part of crisis meeting with Sir Keir Starmer over party’s Gaza position

Sir Keir Starmer is meeting with around 12 Labour MPs in Parliament - at least one of which is on the frontbench - over the party’s stance on Israel and Gaza.

The Labour leader has been joined by his deputy, Angela Rayner, amid anger over his comments which have sparked resignations from councillors. In an interview with LBC after Hamas’s atrocity, Starmer suggested that Israel has the “right” to cut off power and water from Gaza.

But, acknowledging the “distress” caused by the remarks, he subsequently sought to clarify his position, arguing that he did not mean to back the siege on more than two million Palestinians. Dozens of Labour councillors have quit over this, ramping up pressure on Starmer, while the party’s Scottish leader Anas Sarwar said that Israel blocking electricity and fuel from Gaza is a “clear breach of international law”.

Today (25 October) Starmer’s spokesperson confirmed there are around a dozen MPs in attendance, including at least one frontbencher. They said: “We fully recognise that this is a very difficult time for a lot of people, there are strong feelings on all sides of the debate here and it is important that he takes the time to sit down and listen to people from all points of view, which he has sought to do throughout this process.”

It comes as ITV News reports that more than one Shadow Cabinet minister is considering resigning over Starmer’s handling of the Gaza situation. He has resisted calls for a ceasefire, although would back calls, including from the Prime Minister, for a humanitarian pause in a bid to help evacuate civilians.

In Prime Minister’s Questions, Shadow Women and Equalities Minister Yasmin Qureshi appeared to contradict Starmer by referring to the Israeli attack as a “collective punishment”. She asked Rishi Sunak: “This is collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza ... how many innocent Palestinians must die before this Prime Minister calls for a humanitarian ceasefire?”

It is not yet clear whether Qureshi will be reprimanded for appearing to break the Shadow Cabinet’s collective responsibility. Starmer’s spokesperson disputed that she herself was calling for a ceasefire.

They said: “We have said throughout that we would support any initiative to get more aid in and help get hostages out. We saw that Antony Blinken said last night that humanitarian pauses must be considered, that seems to be something that Downing Street is now echoing and we would obviously full support that position.”

Asked about calls for a complete ceasefire, the spokesperson said: “We fully recognise that Israel has a right to defend itself, to go after the hostages and to act in accordance with humanitarian law in that process.

“What we have also said is that we need to ensure that there is protection of civilian life, that we ensure all necessary aid supplies can get into Gaza and reach people who need them, and that continues to be our position.”

Labour frontbencher Darren Jones insisted it was a “routine meeting”. The shadow chief secretary to the Treasury told Times Radio: “It is perfectly normal for MPs, we all represent different constituencies around the country, to want to speak to the leader of our party.

“And understandably, this is a very sensitive and emotive issue, both for people who have connections and relatives to the Palestinian people as well as the Israeli people, and it is perfectly normal for Keir to sit down and listen to colleagues in the parliamentary party and indeed our councillors and other members from across the country.”

More than 150 Muslim Labour councillors have urged Starmer and Rayner to back an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. In a letter, the councillors from areas including Barking and Dagenham, Birmingham, Bradford, Blackburn, Bolton and Glasgow, said the leadership had to work to end the “humanitarian disaster”.

“As Labour councillors elected to serve our constituents, the message we have been hearing repeatedly over the past two weeks is simple, people just want to end the bloodshed and the loss of innocent life,” they wrote.

“No nation, no people or community should have to endure collective punishment and the same should be the case for the Palestinian people.”