Crisis-hit Keir Starmer to give major Israel-Gaza speech after popularity blow
Peter Kyle asked if Keir Starmer has control of party
Sir Keir Starmer will set out his position on the Israel-Hamas conflict in a major speech this morning as Labour tears itself apart over the issue.
The Labour leader will make an address calling on global leaders to work towards restoring peace in the Middle East.
But Sir Keir will defend Labour’s calls for a humanitarian pause rather than a permanent ceasefire.
His intervention comes as several MPs on his frontbenches and high-profile devolved mayors have broken ranks to call for a ceasefire, contradicting his support for a humanitarian pause.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald has been suspended after controversial remarks during a pro-Palestine rally.
It comes as new polling by Datapoll shows the Labour leader’s personal rating has plunged by 12 points in just one week as he faces intense pressure over the Israel-Hamas war.
In his speech, Sir Keir is expected to say that a permanent ceasefire at this stage could leave Hamas with the capability to carry out further attacks in Israel.
Humanitarian pauses typically last for short periods of time with the aim of providing aid and support rather than achieving long-term political solutions, according to the United Nations.
Ceasefires are intended to be long-term and usually seek to allow parties to engage in talks, including the possibility of reaching a permanent political settlement.
Shadow ministers Yasmin Qureshi, Jess Phillips, and Imran Hussain are among the figures who have joined calls for an end to the fighting.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham have also spoken out on a ceasefire.
But Labour is not expected to sack its internal critics from frontbench roles.
Mr McDonald lost the Labour whip yesterday after he used the phrase “between the river and the sea” during a speech at a pro-Palestine rally on Saturday.
He said: “We will not rest until we have justice. Until all people, Israelis and Palestinians between the river and the sea can live in peaceful liberty.”
A slogan used by pro-Palestinian demonstrators, “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, has been described as antisemitic by critics, with Home Secretary Suella Braverman claiming that it is “widely understood” to call for the destruction of Israel.
But Mr McDonald said his words were intended as a “heartfelt plea for an end to the killings”.
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