Keir Starmer conducts frontbench reshuffle after mass resignations over ceasefire vote
Ten front benchers resigned after breaking the party line to vote with the SNP for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza
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Ten frontbenchers resigned after breaking the party line to vote with the SNP for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza
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Sir Keir Starmer has conducted a major shakeup of his front bench after the party was rocked by mass resignations earlier this month.
Ten frontbenchers resigned after breaking the party line to vote with the SNP for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
The rebels included Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence, Jess Philips - one of Labour's most recognisable faces - and Yasmin Qureshi, Shadow Women and Equalities Minister.
Alex Davies-Jones has been drafted in to replace Philips, while Ashley Dalton has taken over from Qureshi.
WATCH: Starmer rejects ceasefire over concerns it will embolden Hamas
Steve McCabe has been appointed Shadow Minister for Veterans, while Lord Livermore has been made Shadow Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.
Tan Dhesi was made Shadow Minister for Exports in the Department for Business and Trade and Liz Twist was appointed Shadow Communities Minister.
A total of 56 MP's defied a three line Labour whip to vote with the SNP.
But MPs voted 293 to 125, a majority of 168, to reject the SNP’s amendment.
In a statement after the vote, the Labour leader said he will not back down on the issue, saying: "Leadership is about doing the right thing".
Shadow Home Office Minister Naz Shah became the first MP to publicly confirm she will defy the Labour whip and vote for a ceasefire.
She said: "Despite all the risk to our personal positions we must do what is right".
Meanwhile, Phillips warned in her statement: "I can see no route where the current military action does anything but put at risk the hope of peace and security for anyone in the region now and in the future."
Qureshi said: "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.
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"With regret, I have stepped down as Shadow Women and Equalities Minister."
Starmer had faced growing criticism for his refusal to call a ceasefire, instead mirroring the Government's position in calling for "humanitarian pauses" to allow aid and supplies to reach impacted zones, and civilians to escape.
He has repeatedly taken the position that calling a ceasefire would only serve to "embolden" Hamas.
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