Third of London Labour MPs rebel over Gaza ceasefire vote

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer suffered a rebellion over the Gaza ceasefire vote

Nearly a third of Labour's London MPs voted against the party line to support a motion calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer had ordered his party to abstain on the SNP motion and instead back one calling for humanitarian pauses.

Over 11,500 people have been killed in Gaza since Hamas's 7 October attacks, the Hamas-run health ministry says.

The ceasefire motion was defeated by 294 to 125.

In total, 56 Labour MPs rebelled, including 15 of the party's 46 MPs in London.

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Andy Slaughter, MP for Hammersmith, was sacked from his role as shadow solicitor general for not abstaining on the vote. BBC London has contacted Mr Slaughter for comment.

MP for Walthamstow Stella Creasy, who voted for a ceasefire, told Radio 4's Today programme: "We're all under no illusions that how the UK parliament acts on its own will make very little difference. It's about what we ask our government to prioritise.

"Many of us felt personally it was important to send the message that the government should be working with a range of organisations to see how a ceasefire which involved all parties [...] could be achieved."

Stella Creasy says she wants the government to work towards a ceasefire

The vote was on an SNP amendment to a government motion on its plans for the year ahead, presented in the King's Speech last week.

In a statement after the vote, Sir Keir, who represents Holborn and St Pancras, said he regretted the stance of some of his party.

"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."

He said Israel had suffered "its worst terrorist attack in a single day" on 7 October.

"No government would allow the capability and intent to repeat such an attack to go unchallenged," he added.

The full list of Labour's rebel London MPs:

• Rosena Allin Khan

• Apsana Begum

• Karen Buck

• Dawn Butler

• Stella Creasy

• Jon Cruddas

• Marsha de Cordova

• Barry Gardiner

• Rupa Huq

• John McDonnell

• Kate Osamor

• Bell Ribeiro Addy

• Andy Slaughter

• Sam Tarry

• Stephen Timms

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