SIR KEIR Starmer faced a growing mutiny last night as more than a dozen frontbenchers broke ranks to call for a ceasefire in Gaza.
Party discipline crumbled as shadow ministers publicly defied the Labour leader to call for a suspension of hostilities.
Senior figures in the Shadow Cabinet are privately lobbying Sir Keir to back down, the Sun on Sunday understands.
Refer to CaptionSarah Owen Labour MP for Luton North has spoken out[/caption]
Around four shadow ministers are on resignation watch but sources say they are holding off quitting because “if one goes they all have to go”.
Sir Keir has refused to budge, determined to remain in lockstep with the Government’s call for “humanitarian pauses” to let aid into Gaza.
Frontbenchers Naz Shah, Afzal Khan and Sarah Owen were among those openly turning the screw on Sir Keir. Shadow domestic violence minister Jess Phillips also shared calls for a ceasefire on her social media.
They follow Labour big beasts London Mayor Sadiq Khan, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
“At this rate Keir Starmer is going to be the only one not calling for ceasefire,” one Labour insider said.
“He is going to have to show flexibility on discipline otherwise shadow ministers will inevitably resign. Keir can’t lose 15 frontbenchers – he is going to have to let them do their thing.”
PAMayor of London Sadiq Khan called for a ceasefire on Friday[/caption]
It comes after Muslim councillors quit Labour in protest with some community members launching grassroots campaigns to boot out top Labour MPs Jon Ashworth in Leicester South and Jim McMahon in Oldham West and Royton.
MPs are worried the revolt could cost them seats with large Muslim populations. And one Labour MP warned they could lose councillors to George Galloway’s party or Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman.
Labour MPs said they had been inundated with abuse over Gaza and this newspaper understands some senior Labour figures have received death threats.
Labour MPs are even facing mutiny among their own parliamentary staff who are calling on them to demand an immediate ceasefire.
One Labour MP admitted: “The party is more divided than ever. People will be questioning if we’ve actually changed.”
Meanwhile, the SNP First Minister for Scotland Humza Yousaf told how he had not heard from his in-laws trapped in Gaza since Friday morning.
“We are one of many thousands families right across the world who are desperately worried about whether or not our loved ones are alive or dead and I simply don’t know the answer to that question.”
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