Labour MPs have been told to back the party’s call for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" in Gaza rather than the SNP’s “immediate ceasefire” in tomorrow’s vote.
It is a significant shift for Sir Keir Starmer and his shadow cabinet, who have long resisted using the word immediate.
They will be hoping the change in position will stave off an expected rebellion on Wednesday when the SNP use their opposition day slot in the Commons to debate the Israel-Hamas war.
Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader took credit for Sir Keir's shift.
"We’ve been Westminster’s conscience on the brutality unfolding in Gaza," he tweeted. "Through Parliamentary pressure, we have inserted a backbone into the Labour Party. Their support for an immediate ceasefire is welcome."
READ MORE: Starmer under pressure to avoid Gaza ceasefire vote rebellion
Shadow Scottish Secretary, Ian Murray said Labour’s motion “seeks the same immediate humanitarian ceasefire” as the SNP’s but “broadens the proposition” by giving “a plan for how to get to the peace we all crave."
This includes demands Israel call off a planned ground offensive in Rafah and Hamas releasing and returning all hostages.
It then goes on to define the immediate humanitarian ceasefire, as an “immediate stop to the fighting and a ceasefire that lasts and is observed by all sides, noting that Israel cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence and that Israelis have the right to the assurance that the horror of 7th October cannot happen again.”
In contrast, the SNP motion calls for an immediate ceasefire without the caveats. It goes on to demand the “immediate release of all hostages taken by Hamas and an end to the collective punishment of the Palestinian people” before saying “that the only way to stop the slaughter of innocent civilians is to press for a ceasefire now.”
READ MORE: Stephen Flynn accuses Anas Sarwar of 'lying' over Gaza ceasefire vote
In a letter to all MPs, the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn urged them to “vote with your conscience for an immediate ceasefire."
He wrote: "No one is pretending this is a simple situation, or that one vote will magically result in a ceasefire overnight – but a ceasefire is more likely to happen if the UK parliament and government join international pressure, than if they fail."
He added: "I’m sure you will agree, this is a defining vote for any MP. I am therefore urging each and every one of you to vote with your conscience for an immediate ceasefire.
"I hope Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer will find the courage to change their position and do the only right thing but, if they won’t, it falls to us, MPs of all parties, to show we demand a ceasefire now."
Responding, Mr Murray said Mr Flynn and his party were playing politics.
He wrote: "I fully appreciate the politics of the SNP having a sole focus on the Labour Party with your motion and debate but, as you know, it’s incumbent on those proposing motion to seek support from the whole House.
"On a matter of such importance, we must do all that we can in order for the House of Commons to speak with one voice."
The Edinburgh South MP said Labour's motion "seeks the same immediate humanitarian ceasefire but broadens the proposition by outlining not just a much more wide ranging position than the SNP motion but gives a plan for how to get to the peace we all crave."
Mr Murray added that for a ceasefire to hold, “all parties must comply with its terms” and that “one sided demands that do not recognise the need to ensure that an attack like October 7th cannot happen again or do not condemn Hamas terrorism will not succeed.”
“Israel cannot be expected to cease fighting if Hamas continues with violence,” he added.
Labour has so far refused to back calls for an “immediate” ceasefire, instead calling for a “sustainable” ceasefire.
READ MORE: Labour leader Keir Starmer demands 'ceasefire that lasts' in Gaza
Over the weekend, Sir Keir Starmer told the Scottish Labour Conference that the fighting between Israel and Hamas “must stop now.”
His speech came after party members at the annual gathering in Glasgow backed a motion demanding an immediate ceasefire.
When the SNP called a similar vote back in November, 56 Labour MPs defied Sir Keir.
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