Labour frontbencher Imran Hussain resigned overnight in a major blow to Sir Keir Starmer, while around five other frontbenchers are thought to be on resignation watch.
Hussain quit the shadow frontbench over Starmer's refusal to call for a ceasefire in Israel and Gaza.
Hussain, who stepped down from his role as shadow minister for the New Deal for Working People last night, said it had become clear that his view on Gaza “differs substantially’’ from that of the Labour leader.
Starmer was rocked by further unrest today, as Labour MPs on the left of the party have tabled an amendment to the King's Speech calling for a ceasefire, in an attempt to try to force a vote on the floor of the Commons.
In a letter to Starmer, posted to X, Hussain wrote: "Yesterday the United Nations Secretary-General warned that Gaza is becoming a ‘graveyard for children'.
“Given the crisis unfolding, I wish to be a strong advocate for a humanitarian ceasefire.
“It is clear that I cannot sufficiently, in all good conscience, do this from the frontbench given its current position.”
Starmer has faced backlash over his refusal to demand a ceasefire, but has argued such a move would serve to "embolden Hamas".
Instead, the Labour leader has mirrored the Government's position in calling for "humanitarian pauses" to allow aid and supplies to reach impacted zones, and civilians to escape.
In his letter, Hussain also said he was "deeply troubled" by comments the Labour leader made on LBC, accusing him of "appearing to endorse actions by the Israeli military".
He added: "Whilst I appreciate your subsequent statements to clarify your comments and the increased emphasis being placed on addressing the desperate situation in Gaza, and whilst we both want to end the bloodshed, I believe the party needs to go further and call for a ceasefire."
In an interview with LBC last month, Starmer said that "Israel has the right" to withhold power and water from Palestinian civilians.
But he added: "Obviously, everything should be done within international law".
In a statement posted to X in the following days, Starmer called on "all parties to act in line with international law, including allowing humanitarian access of food, water, electricity and medicines to Gaza and ensuring safe humanitarian corridors in Gaza for those fleeing violence".
There are thought to be around five other frontbenchers considering resigning over the issue, and Hussain's resignation is likely to add to the pressure for them to do the same.
Tensions in the Labour Party reached a boiling point over the weekend after 11 councillors in Burnley - including the council leader - quit the party.
This takes the total number of councillors who have resigned over the issue to more than 40.
Anwar and the Burnley group issued a statement, saying: "It has become apparent that Keir Starmer and the leadership either cannot or will not heed our concerns or acknowledge the sentiments within our communities.
"Every life holds equal value and indiscriminate bombing and collective punishment of innocent civilians is a clear violation of international law.
"In response to our calls for him to resign he responded that the individual concerns of members are not his focus, further illustrating that he does not value the voice of the grassroots of the party."
The group added: "Regrettably, after exhausting every available option, we have arrived at the conclusion that the current party stance does not align with the values we hold dear.
"We cannot remain in a party that is not doing enough whilst innocent people are being killed in Gaza and Israel."
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There are thought to be around five other frontbenchers considering resigning over the issue, and Hussain's resignation is likely to add to the pressure for them to do the same
PA
Lucy Powell, Shadow Leader of the Commons, earlier this week told Times Radio the party is aligned with its Labour councillors in wanting to end the "cycle of violence in the Middle East".
She said: "We don't want to see anyone resigning from the Labour Party, not least hard-working councillors from Burnley or elsewhere.
"But I think, on the moral issue, what we all agree on in the party is we want to see an end to this cycle of violence, an end to the needless loss of life, the hostages returned and an end to that hostage situation.
"I think also, in the Labour Party, what we do all agree on is that this cycle of violence in the Middle East that's gone on for decades… the only way we will see an end to that cycle is through a peaceful, political solution based on a two-state solution, based on a free and secure Palestine and a free and secure Israel."
