Despite this being a period when many local Labour Parties are not taking motions because of reorganisation for new constituency boundaries, at least two local Labour Parties have passed motions for a ceasefire in Israel-Gaza. Others have motions tabled.
There are moves to set up a “Labour for a ceasefire” group, and UK Friends of Standing Together looks set to gain support in local Labour Parties and trade unions.
Sixteen front-benchers have supported a ceasefire. 580 Labour councillors have signed one or another of two letters calling on Keir Starmer to back a ceasefire. Less usefully, a few dozen have resigned from Labour.
A survey across Labour councillors found 43% saying they see the Labour Party “more negatively” because of Starmer’s line on this, and 15% saying they see it “more positively”, although surely councillors would be inclined to dampen the negativity when asked by external pollsters. Councillors newly elected since 2019 are more critical than older ones.
Unison and other unions have backed a ceasefire.
Starmer remains anxiously in lockstep with the Tories, calling only for “humanitarian pauses” (short ceasefires). He is unable to keep a lid on the labour movement on this.
As far as we know, union and Labour resolutions so far mostly condemn the Hamas atrocity on 7 October and support a “two states” democratic settlement (a real independent Palestinian state alongside a secure Israel). The letter from the first ten Labour councillors to resign was also clear for “two states”. Often the advocates of “smash Israel” are hesitant about pushing that line in the labour movement.
Solidarity wants labour movement bodies to become a visible presence on the ceasefire demonstrations, with their own placards and slogans for a democratic peace.
• Motions and texts at bit.ly/mo-pe
• UK Friends of Standing Together