All four Bristol MPs abstain on ceasefire vote

The Labour MPs representing Bristol’s four constituencies all abstained on an amendment supporting a ceasefire in the House of Commons on Wednesday night.

Thangam Debbonaire, Kerry McCarthy, Karin Smith and Darren Jones did not join their 56 party colleagues who defied leader Keir Starmer’s orders not to vote for a ceasefire.

The vote came after weeks of protests calling for an end to the violence in the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict that has seen many thousands killed.

MPs voted by a majority of 168 (293 to 125) to reject the SNP’s King’s Speech amendment calling for “all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire” in Gaza.

There have been a number of protests calling for a ceasefire in Bristol since the crisis began – photo: Rob Browne

The 56 Labour MPs who voted for a ceasefire included Jess Phillips and Yasmin Qureshi, who – like Jones and Debbonaire – held shadow cabinet positions that they resigned from in order to defy Starmer’s orders.

The Labour leader has instead called for humanitarian pauses in the conflict between Hamas and Israel to allow aid to reach those in need.

The city has seen some of the largest protests in recent years calling for a ceasefire, with thousands of demonstrators attending various protests and fundraisers.

Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign is one of the groups that have organised such protests.

Responding to Wednesday night’s vote, the group wrote: “Labour MPs who voted for a ceasefire in Parliament last night. Their principles were stronger than their party political ambitions.

“Shame on Bristol’s MPs who didn’t do likewise.”

Carla Denyer, the Green Party candidate for Bristol Central, where Thangam Debbonaire will be standing at the next election, had called for the MPs to support a ceasefire.

Writing for Bristol24/7, the Green party co-leader and councillor for Clifton Down wrote: “The children of Gaza cannot afford for us to play politics with this issue.

“As political leaders, it is our responsibility to listen to people and use our platform to stand up for what is right.

“As co-leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, I am using my platform to call for a ceasefire. I hope that come Wednesday’s vote, the MPs who represent Bristol will do the same.”

In a statement after the vote Debbonaire explained why she did not vote for a ceasefire, saying: “I voted for an end to the violence in Israel and Palestine, and for humanitarian pauses as a necessary step towards an enduring cessation of fighting as soon as possible.

“I share the deep desire for an end to the violence and suffering, which cannot come too soon, and understand and respect the heartfelt calls for a ceasefire.

“I believe that as a prospective party of government, Labour’s responsibility is to find and chart a viable diplomatic path all the way to a lasting peace. A ceasefire is on that path but is not yet possible.

“This is why we pushed successfully for humanitarian pauses in hostilities – not as a goal, but as an achievable first step to provide urgently needed help. Pauses of a few hours are clearly nothing like enough. I am continuing to push for a full and immediate pause in fighting across the whole of Gaza to get more food, fuel, water and medical supplies in.”

Main photo: Darren Jones MP

Read next:

• Thousands march through Bristol calling for ceasefire in Palestine
• Bristol religious leaders call for ‘swift and peaceful’ end to Israel-Palestine conflict 
• Debbonaire and Jones both promoted to shadow cabinet

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