Frontbench resignation shows incredible pressure many Labour MPs are under over ceasefire

Divided parties don’t win elections.

But with an overnight resignation, that is the current state of the Labour Party with regards to its stance on the Israel-Hamas war.

Last night, shadow minister Imran Hussain resigned from Sir Keir Starmer’s shadow frontbench, but many might be asking how much this really matters in the context of a global conflict.

Internationally, the resignation of one shadow minister won’t have any impact on the conflict we see unfolding on our screens.

But domestically it matters.

Labour’s stance on the war matters to Labour MPs, Muslim voters (72% of which identify most with Labour), and to many undecided voters considering giving Starmer a chance.

Firstly, it’s important to note the difference between the shadow front bench and the shadow cabinet.

Imran Hussain is on Sir Keir’s shadow front bench but is not in his shadow cabinet, meaning he is a junior member of the shadow ministerial team but not a member of the most senior team.

Secondly, although not necessarily a household name, his resignation is indicative of the incredible pressure many Labour MPs are under from their constituencies.

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For Labour MPs with significant Muslim populations in their constituencies, the party’s stance on backing a humanitarian pause to get aid into Gaza and hostages out – something the UK government and the US have also called for – is not going far enough.

In Mr Hussain’s resignation letter to Sir Keir, he said: “A ceasefire is essential to ending the bloodshed, to ensuring that enough aid can pass into Gaza and reach those most in need, and to help ensure the safe return of the Israeli hostages.

“The cutting of food, water, power and medicine to Palestinians in Gaza is an act of collective punishment that violates international law and is a clear war crime under the Geneva Conventions.”

Mr Hussain’s resignation came after he was the only shadow minister to sign another early day motion calling for a ceasefire (he had already signed one in October) which is clearly not in line with the Labour Party’s stance on the conflict, thus he decided to step back from his role in order to put his name to it.

Sir Keir’s team insists a humanitarian pause and diplomatic dialogue are the most effective ways to ensure the safety of hostages, and that a ceasefire would only embolden Hamas to commit further atrocities like that of 7 October.

But there is another potential threat on the horizon for Sir Keir. A vote.

If there is a vote in the Commons on a ceasefire, it will be all eyes on whether any of the shadow front bench vote in favour of it, and if they defy their leader will there be repercussions?

If that were to happen, we could see more difficulties for the Labour leader at a time when he is keen to show his party is in lockstep with the government.

All this is hypothetical, for now, but you can nonetheless see a scenario in which Sir Keir is put in an uncomfortable position.

With 50 councillors having so far resigned, 18 shadow ministers calling for a ceasefire, one shadow minister resigning, and regional leaders such as Anas Sawar, Sadiq Khan and Andy Burnham also calling for the same, can Sir Keir convince worried MPs that he is listening to their concerns?

Speak to some senior Labour MPs and they say if they were a Tory strategist, they would advise Rishi Sunak to opt for a spring general election to capitalise on the division within the opposition.

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