Tory MP Fired for Calling for Ceasefire

Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, is facing renewed calls to take action against MPs within his party who have called for a ceasefire in Gaza. This comes after Tory MP Paul Bristow was fired from his government role for making similar comments.

Paul Bristow's Plea

Paul Bristow, the MP for Peterborough, wrote a letter to Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, last week, urging for a "permanent" end to the hostilities. He expressed concern for the safety of innocent Palestinians and called for a ceasefire, stating that they should not be punished for the crimes of Hamas.

Pressure Mounts on Starmer

After Bristow's comments were revealed in The Telegraph, a spokesperson for No10 confirmed that he had been asked to leave his government role for not adhering to the principle of collective responsibility. This has increased pressure on Keir Starmer to take action against the Labour MPs who have also called for a ceasefire.

Labour Infighting

Sir Keir Starmer's refusal to back a flat-out ceasefire and instead call for a "humanitarian pause" has caused division within the Labour Party. A quarter of his MPs, including shadow ministers, and prominent figures such as Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham, have defied his stance. The infighting has led to questions about who is truly in charge if Starmer were to become Prime Minister.

Controversial Statements and Responses

At a pro-Palestine rally, Corbynista backbencher Andy McDonald used the incendiary phrase "between the river and the sea," which drew criticism. John McDonnell, a veteran leftie, defended McDonald's statement and suggested that Israel should have responded with negotiation rather than a large-scale attack. These statements have sparked fury and accusations of trolling the Jewish community.

Starmer's Visit to the Middle East

Today, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy will begin a three-day visit to the Middle East to call for a humanitarian pause to allow aid into Gaza.