Westminster is failing the people of Gaza by blocking a meaningful ceasefire vote

by Stephen Flynn
Posted on
2 months ago
3 min read

Depsite the circus of Westminster last week, where the SNP’s motion for a ceasefire in Gaza descended into chaos because of a sitch-up between the Labour Party and the Speaker of the House of Commons, Westminster has once again found a way to sink lower.

In an effort to secure tangible measures from last week’s ceasefire vote, SNP MPs submitted an emergency motion that would instruct the UK Government to vote for an immediate ceasefire, or wording with that effect, during the next relevant motion brought before the United Nations Security Council. The Speaker has once again blocked the SNP’s efforts.

SNP MP’s fresh motion for an emergency debate would have seen MPs once again vote on an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel, demand the release of all hostages taken by Hamas, and mandate the UK government to take concrete steps to help make a ceasefire happen, including using its position on the UN security council to push for, and vote for, an immediate ceasefire, and immediately halting the transfers of military equipment and technology, including components, to Israel, and to suspend the issuing of new licences – in line with UN calls for an arms embargo.

For months, the UK parliament has blocked SNP calls for an immediate ceasefire – and now it’s blocking a vote on the concrete actions the UK government must pursue to make an immediate ceasefire more likely.

Last Thursday, the Speaker made an apology, and public commitment in the Commons that the SNP could have an SO24 emergency debate, after the SNP opposition day was wrecked, following a decision by the Speaker to break the rules of the House of Commons after a private meeting with Keir Starmer.

Ahead of making the application for an emergency debate, the SNP wrote to all party leaders offering a meeting to discuss the contents of the SNP motion. Keir Starmer was the only opposition leader who didn’t respond. Nonetheless, the SNP included language from the Labour Party’s amendment to maximise consensus.

Yet again, Westminster is failing the people of Gaza by blocking a vote on the urgent action the UK government must take to help make an immediate ceasefire happen.

The UK is a key ally and defence trading partner of Israel and the United States, and a permanent member of the UN security council. It is not a powerless spectator – and Parliament has a moral duty to ensure the UK government is doing everything it can.

Around 30,000 Palestinian children, women and men have been killed while Westminster has dithered and delayed – and huge swathes of Gaza have been obliterated. The UK’s strategy of equivocation has failed.

If the debate in Westminster is to be anything other than meaningless, it’s essential that warm words on an immediate ceasefire are backed up with concrete action – specific, practical tangible measures.

I urge Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer to work with us to ensure Parliament can mandate the UK government to pull every lever to help secure an immediate ceasefire, and lasting peace through a two state solution.

Finally, it’s regrettable that this inexplicable decision will further erode trust in the Speaker. The Speaker broke the rules last week – and this week he has broken his word. How can MPs have any trust in the Speaker when he makes a public commitment one minute, only to rip it up the next. If 30,000 dead Palestinians aren’t worthy of an emergency debate – what is?”

Full wording of the SNP’s emergency motion

That this House officially reaffirms its position, as of 21st February 2024, to support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel; further reaffirms its horror at the October 7th 2023 terrorist attacks by Hamas and the subsequent collective punishment of the Palestinian people in Gaza; demands the release of all hostages taken by Hamas; condemns any military assault on the 1.5 million refugees sheltering in Rafah; further demands the Government immediately halts all transfers of military equipment and technology, including components, to Israel, and to suspend the issuing of new licences; calls on the international community to ensure the rapid and unimpeded humanitarian relief is provided in Gaza; further calls for an end to settlement expansion and violence; urges Israel to comply with the International Court of Justice’s provisional measures; and urges all international partners to work together to establish a diplomatic process to deliver the peace of a two-state solution; recognises that statehood is the inalienable right of the Palestinian people and not in the gift of any neighbour; instructs the Government to vote for an immediate ceasefire, or wording with that effect, during the next relevant motion brought before the United Nations Security Council.