The leadership of the Labour Party faced its most significant internal rebellion since Keir Starmer took charge more than three years ago. On Wednesday, more than 50 MPs—roughly a quarter of the party’s total—expressed objections to a key decision related to the escalating Israel-Hamas conflict. Starmer urged MPs to back a motion aimed at pausing the fighting and opening humanitarian corridors, a stance that drew pressure from Scottish nationalists and revealed rifts within Labour that challenged his early leadership high point, even as polls showed him ahead of the Conservatives by a sizable margin.
Starmer sought to persuade dissenting MPs to support a motion that favored humanitarian pauses to allow aid into affected areas and to separate civilians from the frontline. This approach did not win over at least eight senior members of his own team, who resigned from frontbench roles in opposition across domestic, foreign, and other ministries. Among the resignations were the shadow minister responsible for domestic violence, Jess Phillips, and Afzal Khan, who had served as a shadow export minister.
historical debate
Attitudes toward the Israel-Palestine conflict have long been a flashpoint within the Labour Party. Starmer has attempted to balance firm condemnation of violence with support for Israel, striving to distinguish his stance from that of his predecessor, Jeremy Corbyn, whose moderation had drawn strong criticism and accusations of anti-Semitism within the party. In addressing the latest vote, Starmer said, I regret that some colleagues feel they cannot support tonight’s position, but leadership means doing what is right and serving the public’s best interests. This is the least that citizens deserve.
Corbyn himself was expelled from the parliamentary Labour Group at the end of 2020. Earlier this week he urged Labour MPs not to follow the leadership’s orders and to openly back a ceasefire in Gaza. He had spoken at a pro-Palestinian demonstration near Westminster, urging his audience to consider the broader historical picture and to demand a ceasefire when the chance arose.
discordant sounds
These internal tensions mark Labour as the most unsettled it has been since Starmer took the helm, though a number of members had already expressed dissent about the party line as the conflict intensified. Around thirty Labour councillors voiced their views on the Israel-Hamas conflict in early October, and two weeks ago London’s mayor joined others in calling for a Gaza ceasefire. Sadiq Khan and Anas Sarwar, the party leader in Scotland, have publicly weighed in on the ceasefire issue, signaling the breadth of opinion within the party.
Starmer’s perceived softness on condemning Israeli military actions in Gaza has implications for support among both militants and Muslim voters. A Savanta poll indicates that 45 percent of British Muslim respondents are unhappy with Starmer’s stance, while 19 percent express satisfaction. The challenge for Labour in the coming months will be to craft a message that resonates with both Muslim and Jewish communities within the party, maintaining unity without compromising core values or diplomatic considerations. (Savanta)
As the debate continues, several key questions persist: How should a party navigate moral clarity and strategic restraint in a volatile regional conflict? What balance is necessary to maintain unity among diverse constituencies while advocating for humanitarian relief and civilian protection? And how will leadership choices shape Labour’s electoral prospects in the near term? These questions will guide the party’s internal dialogue and public position in the months ahead.