How Greater Manchester MPs voted on ceasefire debate in Parliament

Two Greater Manchester MPs resigned from the Labour frontbench in a dramatic night in the House of Commons. Parliament voted on two amendments surrounding the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Both amendments - including one tabled by the SNP calling for a ceasefire - were rejected. Labour ordered its MPs to abstain on the SNP's motion, meaning frontbenchers had to resign or face the sack to support it.

Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer has argued that a ceasefire would not be appropriate, because it would freeze the conflict and embolden Hamas. Nearly 70 Labour MPs had defied their leader to call for a ceasefire now by the time of the vote on Wednesday evening, but just 56 voted this way in the Commons.

Labour, like the Conservative government, the United States and the European Union, have been calling for "humanitarian pauses" to help aid reach Gaza. Compared with a formal ceasefire, these pauses tend to last for short periods of time, sometimes just a few hours - but many MPs have said the pauses do not go far enough.

The pauses are implemented with the aim of providing humanitarian support only, as opposed to achieving long-term political solutions. Last week, the US said Israel would begin to implement daily four-hour military pauses in areas of northern Gaza.

Keir Starmer had opposed calls for a ceasefire (Image: PA)

On Wednesday evening, MPs divided to vote on amendment R, tabled by Labour, to the motion on the King's Speech. The amendment tabled by Labour says the 'House wishes to see an end to the violence in Israel and Palestine' and called for a 'credible, diplomatic and political process to deliver the lasting peace of a two-state solution.'

MPs voted 290 to 183, majority 107, to reject Labour’s King’s Speech amendment calling for longer “humanitarian pauses” rather than a ceasefire in Gaza.

The SNP's amendment was also sent down. MPs voted 293 to 125, majority 168, to reject the SNP’s King’s Speech amendment calling for “all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.

Labour shadow business minister Afzal Khan called for a ceasefire in the Commons during the debate on the amendments, before resigning from his ministerial post. The MP for Manchester Gorton told the Commons: “If we had a ceasefire yesterday 144 Gazan children would still be alive today. Israel has already crossed every red line imaginable and broken international humanitarian laws.

“History has shown us that military action alone does not resolve conflicts and Israel’s use of force will not resolve this one.

“We need to call an immediate ceasefire now. My constituents have demanded this and I will not refuse them. Supporting a ceasefire is the very least we can do.”

The shadow minister for exports then told Sir Keir Starmer in a letter, which was shared on social media after his appearance in the Commons, that he could no longer carry on: “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.”

Mr Khan was not the only Greater Manchester MP to resign from their ministerial job. Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi also stepped down from her role as shadow women and equalities minister.

Bolton MP Yasmin Qureshi (Image: Manchester Evening News)

The MP for Bolton South East wrote: “The situation in Gaza desperately requires an immediate ceasefire to address the humanitarian catastrophe and to advance moves towards a political solution that brings freedom, prosperity and security.”

The Bolton South East MP also shared her letter to the Labour leader on X, formerly Twitter, adding: "The scale of bloodshed in Gaza is unprecedented. Tonight, I will vote for an immediate ceasefire.

"We must call for an end to the carnage to protect innocents lives and end human suffering. With regret, I have stepped down as Shadow Women and Equalities Minister."

A total of 10 Labour MPs left the party's frontbench over how they voted. Prior to tonight's vote, almost 50 councillors had resigned from the party over the leadership's position on the war.