Starmer on the brink as Labour rebels pile more pressure on leader | Politics | News

Sir Keir Starmer faces further pressure from Labour rebels this week over his refusal to back a ceasefire in Gaza.

More than a dozen frontbenchers and around a quarter of the party have called for a permanent end to Israeli bombardment, while the Labour leader backs time-limited humanitarian pauses.

Some on the left of the party are said to be trying to force a vote in the Commons on the issue, possibly with the help of the Scottish National Party, as MPs return to Westminster.

Sir Keir has indicated he will not take action against shadow ministers who defy him.

Tory party chairman Greg Hands said: “[He] is being openly defied by his own party with Labour figures joining protests and demanding a ceasefire.

“If his own shadow frontbench is defying him without any action being taken, how could the British people trust him to take the difficult long-term decisions?”