Eight shadow ministers quit or face sack from Starmer"s frontbench over Labour"s opposition to Gaza ceasefire Labour leader Keir Starmer has seen a big rebellion of eight shadow ministers – including shadow domestic violence minister Jess Phillips – from a total of 56 Labour MPs who voted with the SNP on an amendment to the king’s speech calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The rebels on the front bench included Phillips, Rachel Hopkins, Sarah Owen, Afzal Khan, Paula Barker, Naz Shah, Yasmin Quereshi and Andy Slaughter. Two parliamentary private secretaries also left. The 56 Labour MPs rejected Starmer’s position, which calls for a “credible, diplomatic and political process” to deliver a peaceful two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The SNP motion instead called for an immediate ceasefire. The rebellion signals how the divisions over views on the Israel-Hamas conflict have the potential to tear Labour apart – a point of contention that Starmer will face tough questions about as the country gears up for a general election in the next year. The biggest name to leave the front bench was Phillips, who said in a resignation statement: “On this occasion I must vote with my constituents, my head, and my heart … 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.” The United Nations has called for a ceasefire as over 11,000 people in Gaza have been killed since Israel’s bombardment began, after the 7 October massacres by Hamas in Israel that saw about 1,200 killed and 240 taken hostage. After the vote, Starmer said: “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.” Three Labour frontbenchers resigned in the minutes before the vote, after Starmer made clear that those voting for the ceasefire amendment would be sacked. Meanwhile, outside the gates of parliament, a large demonstration in support of a ceasefire shouted “shame on you” at MPs who rejected calls for an immediate stop in the fighting. Here"s what we know Here’s a summary of a whirlwind Wednesday in British politics. The UK supreme court ruled this morning that the government’s flagship immigration policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful, because of risks to the people being sent there. The unanimous ruling marked a major blow for the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, who responded in a combative press conference by vowing to push through emergency legislation to resurrect the plan. Sunak planned to pursue a new method by creating a new international treaty with Rwanda, trying to sidestep the court ruling “to get flights off” by next spring. Refugee charities welcomed the ruling, with Amnesty International urging the government to abandon the Rwanda policy and repeal the Illegal Migration Act. Backbench Conservatives on the right including Jacob Rees-Mogg and Simon Clarke led Tory calls for government to bypass the European convention on human rights, but the supreme court’s ruling said the Rwanda policy would still be unlawful even if the UK left the ECHR. Meanwhile, a major vote was held in the House of Commons on Wednesday evening calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, which MPs voted against. The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, faced a large rebellion over his policy not to back a ceasefire, with 56 Labour MPs and eight shadow frontbenchers defying Starmer. Jess Phillips was the most high profile front bencher to leave Starmer’s team, as the issue threatens to divide Labour ahead of next year’s expected general election. Protesters calling for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war were ejected from the gallery of the House of Commons, and a large pro-Palestinian demonstration was held outside parliament, with people shouting “shame on you” at MPs. It came as the death toll in Gaza from Israeli bombardment climbed above 11,180, and the United Nations security council voted to adopt a draft resolution calling for a humanitarian pause in fighting in Gaza, and greater efforts to allow humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged territory. That’s all from me, Jem Bartholomew, and for the UK politics live blog for Wednesday. Thanks for following along and see you next time. More Labour frontbench rebellion statements here, from Naz Shah, Sarah Owen and Yasmin Qureshi. Here are the statements posted on X/Twitter from those who defied Labour’s whip so far. Jess Phillips said it was with a “heavy heart” that she was quitting. Paula Barker called for a bilateral ceasefire. Rachel Hopkins made the case that organisations like the UN and Save the Children support a ceasefire. Afzal Khan said he “cannot in good conscience” vote against a ceasefire. Labour leader Keir Starmer has issued a statement in response to the rebellion. Alongside leaders around the world, I have called throughout for adherence to international law, for humanitarian pauses to allow access for aid, food, water, utilities and medicine, and have expressed our concerns at the scale of civilian casualties. Much more needs to be done in this regard to ease the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in Gaza. And in addition to addressing the present, every leader has a duty not to go back to a failed strategy of containment and neglect, but to forge a better and more secure future for both Palestinians and Israelis. 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. Leadership is about doing the right thing. That is the least the public deserves. And the least that leadership demands.” He lost eight shadow ministers and faces a sizeable reshuffle. Meanwhile, demonstrators outside parliament shout “shame on you” after MPs rejected the ceasefire amendment. Eight shadow ministers quit or face sack from Starmer"s frontbench over Labour"s opposition to Gaza ceasefire Labour leader Keir Starmer has seen a big rebellion of eight shadow ministers – including shadow domestic violence minister Jess Phillips – from a total of 56 Labour MPs who voted with the SNP on an amendment to the king’s speech calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The rebels on the front bench included Phillips, Rachel Hopkins, Sarah Owen, Afzal Khan, Paula Barker, Naz Shah, Yasmin Quereshi and Andy Slaughter. Two parliamentary private secretaries also left. The 56 Labour MPs rejected Starmer’s position, which calls for a “credible, diplomatic and political process” to deliver a peaceful two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. The SNP motion instead called for an immediate ceasefire. The rebellion signals how the divisions over views on the Israel-Hamas conflict have the potential to tear Labour apart – a point of contention that Starmer will face tough questions about as the country gears up for a general election in the next year. The biggest name to leave the front bench was Phillips, who said in a resignation statement: “On this occasion I must vote with my constituents, my head, and my heart … 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.” The United Nations has called for a ceasefire as over 11,000 people in Gaza have been killed since Israel’s bombardment began, after the 7 October massacres by Hamas in Israel that saw about 1,200 killed and 240 taken hostage. After the vote, Starmer said: “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.” Three Labour frontbenchers resigned in the minutes before the vote, after Starmer made clear that those voting for the ceasefire amendment would be sacked. Meanwhile, outside the gates of parliament, a large demonstration in support of a ceasefire shouted “shame on you” at MPs who rejected calls for an immediate stop in the fighting. Here are the results on SNP’s motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. 125 ayes, 294 noes. The defeat is to be expected given the Conservative majority in the Commons, but details on which Labour MPs defied Starmer will be coming soon. It looks like over 50 Labour MPs defied Starmer. The list of MPs voting will be out soon… Three Labour shadow ministers so far resign over party"s Gaza ceasefire position Three Labour shadow ministers have resigned over the party’s opposition to a House of Commons motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In the last few minutes, Afzal Khan has resigned as shadow minister for exports, Paula Barker has quit as shadow minister for devolution and the English regions, Yasmin Qureshi has stepped down as shadow women and equalities minister. “I understand that you do not feel that a ceasefire is currently the right course of action and due to our difference of opinion on the issue, I do not feel I am able to continue as a shadow minister,” Khan said in a statement posted on X/Twitter. It comes as they were facing being sacked by the Labour leader, Keir Starmer, if they backed an SNP amendment to the king’s speech calling for a ceasefire, which Labour opposes. “The scale of bloodshed in Gaza is unprecedented. Tonight, I will vote for an immediate ceasefire,” Qureshi said. “We must call for an end to the carnage to protect innocents lives and end human suffering. More to come. Meanwhile, as the voting is under way, outside parliament’s walls there is a demonstration from people calling for an immediate ceasfire in Gaza. Here are some pictures posted on X/Twitter by the Stop the War Coalition. MPs have now resumed debating the king’s speech. First, they will vote on a Labour amendment, which calls for a “credible, diplomatic and political process” to deliver a peaceful two-state solution in between Israel and Palestine. (Expect results about 7:15pm GMT.) Next, the vote on an SNP amendment that calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Finally, they will vote on a Liberal Democrat amendment unrelated to the Israel-Hamas war. Layla Moran, the Liberal Democrat MP for Oxford West and Abingdon, reveals she has lost a family member in Gaza. She said they were sheltering in a church in Gaza city, according to statements in the House of Commons, and died not from a bomb but possible lack of access to food and healthcare. All of the hospitals in northern Gaza are “out of service” amid fuel shortages and intense combat, the Hamas-run health ministry in the besieged territory said on Monday. The Labour leader, Keir Starmer, is “locked in talks with waverers on his frontbench this evening”, Politico reported about an hour ago. As well as the three frontbenchers mentioned below, other Labour MPs expected to vote for the SNP’s Gaza ceasefire motion are: Tahir Ali, Rosena Allin-Khan, Dawn Butler, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne, Barry Gardiner, Clive Lewis, Emma Lewell-Buck, Ian Lavery, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Andy McDonald, Rachael Maskell, John McDonnell, Grahame Morris, Imran Hussain, Kate Hollern, Kate Osamor, Kate Osborne, Bell Ribeiro-Addy, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Zarah Sultana, Jon Cruddas, Jon Trickett, Beth Winter, Mohammad Yasin, and Rupa Huq. Meanwhile, a crowd of demonstrators is gathering outside parliament this evening to push the case for a ceasefire. Gaza ceasefire vote at 7pm GMT likely to see three Labour shadow ministers sacked We’re about 20 minutes out from a big parliamentary vote for Labour – over an SNP amendment to the king’s speech – that calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. The vote threatens to be Keir Starmer’s biggest rebellions as leader, as three Labour frontbenchers have publicly defied the party leadership and called for a ceasefire in Gaza. The likely outcome is that Starmer will sack them from the shadow front bench this evening. Naz Shah (Bradford West), Afzal Khan (Manchester Gorton) and Helen Hayes (Dulwich and West Norwood) told fellow MPs in the Commons of their intention to vote for an immediate ceasefire, and scores of backbenchers are expected to join them. “Despite all the risk to our personal positions we must do what it is right,” Shah said. On the evening broadcast round, Labour’s shadow business secretary, Jonathan Reynolds, is on the Andrew Marr show defending Starmer’s position not to support the amendment. “It’s not a free vote, there is a collective responsibility,” Reynolds said, adding: “It’s not so much about people being sacked as such, but that they would lose their jobs. If they’ve made a decision as a parliamentarian that they can’t be part of that collective decision, they wouldn’t be on the frontbench.”