Sir Keir Starmer's leadership crisis escalates as TEN key allies quit Shadow Cabinet over Israel stance
Sir Keir Starmer faced the most significant rebellion against his leadership last night, with ten members of his Shadow Cabinet being forced to quit.
The ten Labour frontbenchers quit after they broke with the party line to vote for the SNP's amendment to the King's Speech calling for an immediate ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
The rebels included Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence, Jess Philips - one of Labour's most recognisable faces - and Yasmin Qureshi, Shadow Women and Equalities Minister.
An 11th frontbencher, Helen Hayes, also broke with the party line to speak up for a ceasefire in the preceding debate, but has not been forced to quit as she did not vote with the SNP's amendment.
WATCH: Starmer rejects ceasefire over concerns it will embolden Hamas
MPs voted 293 to 125, a majority of 168, to reject the SNP’s amendment.
But a total of 56 Labour MPs defied Starmer to vote with the SNP.
This is despite Labour MPs being under a three-line whip not to vote in the SNP's amendment.
A party spokesperson on Tuesday evening said: "We're not going to be engaging with the party political game playing by the SNP in parliament."
The Labour leader appears to be in retreat today, laying low after last night's knock. He has no media planned as he heads to Scotland for a visit.
In a statement after the vote, the Labour leader said he will not back down on the issue, saying: "Leadership is about doing the right thing".
Shadow Home Office Minister Naz Shah became the first MP to publicly confirm she will defy the Labour whip and vote for a ceasefire this evening.
She said: "Despite all the risk to our personal positions we must do what is right".
Meanwhile, Phillips warned in her statement: "I can see no route where the current military action does anything but put at risk the hope of peace and security for anyone in the region now and in the future."
Qureshi said: "The scale of bloodshed in Gaza is unprecedented. Tonight, I will vote for an immediate ceasefire.
"We must call for an end to the carnage to protect innocents lives and end human suffering.
"With regret, I have stepped down as Shadow Women and Equalities Minister."
Starmer has faced growing criticism for his refusal to call a ceasefire, instead mirroring the Government's position in calling for "humanitarian pauses" to allow aid and supplies to reach impacted zones, and civilians to escape.
Last week, frontbencher Imran Hussain resigned from his post over the party's position on the conflict.
In a letter to Starmer, posted to X, Hussain wrote: "Yesterday the United Nations Secretary-General warned that Gaza is becoming a ‘graveyard for children'.
“Given the crisis unfolding, I wish to be a strong advocate for a humanitarian ceasefire.
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Phillips warned in her statement: "I can see no route where the current military action does anything but put at risk the hope of peace and security for anyone in the region now and in the future."
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“It is clear that I cannot sufficiently, in all good conscience, do this from the front bench given its current position.”
In his letter, Hussain also said he was "deeply troubled" by comments the Labour leader made on LBC, accusing him of "appearing to endorse actions by the Israeli military".
He added: "Whilst I appreciate your subsequent statements to clarify your comments and the increased emphasis being placed on addressing the desperate situation in Gaza, and whilst we both want to end the bloodshed, I believe the party needs to go further and call for a ceasefire."