Keir Starmer left floundering in grilling over biggest Labour revolt under his leadership
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer dodged questions about whether his refusal to back a full ceasefire between Israel and Hamas could lead to more MPs quitting.
Sir Keir Starmer was left grappling over his leadership credentials amid warnings he could face more Labour frontbench resignations over the crisis in Gaza.
Ten frontbenchers jumped ship on Wednesday night in order to defy him and vote for a permanent end to fighting that has claimed thousands of lives.
But others who obeyed orders to sit out the vote remain restless, with some suggesting they could still walk.
Asked about the Commons mauling during a visit to Aberdeenshire, Scotland, the Labour leader said: “This isn’t a question of the management of the Labour Party.”
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Put to him that it was a matter for him as party leader, Sir Keir replied: “I’m the leader of the Labour Party. I hope that at the next election, we will be able to form a government.
“That is precisely why my focus is on the question of the release of the hostages and precisely on the question of how do we alleviate the suffering on the ground for so many civilians that have lost their lives in Gaza.
“That is what you would expect from the leader of the Opposition. That is what you would expect from someone who wants to form the next government, working with our international allies to ensure that we can get those hostages released, we can alleviate the situation on the ground, the killing of so many innocent civilians — women and children included.
“That is where my focus is. That is where I think anybody watching this would expect the focus to be of the leader of the Opposition, not on questions of party management.”
READ MORE: Gaza ceasefire vote – How your MP voted as Labour revolt against Keir Starmer
Many shadow frontbenchers who towed the party line have faced protests in their constituencies, including Bethnal Green and Bow MP Rushanara Ali, whose constituency office was targeted.
The shadow minister for small businesses has called for a ceasefire but did not vote for one in the division called by the SNP.
She told the Guardian on Wednesday night: “Leaving the shadow government is something I am always willing to do, which is why I completely respect the decisions taken by my fellow MPs today.
“The moment I feel my presence is less positively impactful than my absence, I will do so.”
Jess Phillips, the shadow minister for domestic violence, was among the frontbenchers who either quit or were sacked so they could back a ceasefire in a Commons vote.
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A total of 56 Labour MPs defied their party leader's position of advocating for pauses in fighting so they could support a cessation.
Sir Keir, who is on the second day of a visit to Scotland, has refused to give ground on his backing for time-limited humanitarian pauses in the fighting instead of a ceasefire.
His trip comes after a bruising week for the Opposition leader amid the backdrop of unending fighting in Gaza triggered by Hamas's October 7 terrorist attack.
Since Israel started striking back the Gazan health ministry - run by the Palestinian militant group - says more than 11,470 people have been killed in the territory.
