Starmer in crisis as frontbenchers quit to back vote on Israel ceasefire

SIR Keir Starmer suffered the largest rebellion of his leadership last night as more than a quarter of his MPs including frontbencher Jess Phillips defied him by backing a Gaza ceasefire in a crunch Commons vote.

- Katie Harris

The shadow minister for domestic violence was one of eight shadow ministers to revolt by backing an SNP amendment to the King's Speech demanding demanding a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

Sir Keir, who has faced weeks of discomfort over the issue, expressed his "regret" at the rebellion which saw 10 frontbenchers defy him.

Ms Phillips, Yasmin Qureshi, Afzal Khan and Paula Barker quit.

Other frontbenchers Rachel Hopkins, Sarah Owen, Naz Shah and Andy Slaughter faced being sacked for breaking the party whip.

Parliamentary private secretaries Dan Carden and Mary Foy were among the 56 Labour MPs who backed the SNP amendment.

Labour had ordered its MPs to abstain on the SNP amendment and instead support Sir Keir's position calling for humanitarian pauses.