West Dunbartonshire’s MP Martin Docherty-Hughes has said the SNP won’t give up in pressuring Westminster to back calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and Israel.
It follows a vote in the House of Commons on Wednesday after the SNP tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech calling for “all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire” in the Middle East conflict.
Local MP Martin Docherty-Hughes says he was proud to vote with his conscience in supporting a humanitarian ceasefire, which was backed by 125 MPs in parliament.
The SNP’s motion was however blocked by a majority of Tories and Labour, despite 56 Labour MPs defying the orders of UK Labour leader Keir Starmer to abstain on the vote.
Sir Keir Starmer has faced criticism from within his party for failing to back a ceasefire in Gaza, suffering a major rebellion which resulted in ten of his frontbencher MPs quitting in protest.
The Labour leader’s decision to back the Tories in blocking calls for a ceasefire has been labelled ‘shameful, with the SNP vowing to continue pressuring Westminster to show ‘moral leadership’ in response to the conflict.
In addition, the local SNP council group in West Dunbartonshire has called for a special meeting of the Council to support the call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
Speaking after the Commons vote, Martin Docherty-Hughes MP said:
“The clear message I’ve heard from my constituents is that they’re horrified by the atrocities witnessed in Israel and Gaza and want to see an end to the conflict.
“The vast majority of people here and across the country back a humanitarian ceasefire to stop the deaths of innocent children and civilians.
“I was proud to vote with my conscience in parliament alongside 124 other MPs in calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the conflict.
“History will remember that the majority of Labour and Tory MPs failed to find the moral courage to do the right thing. I find it remarkable that the leader of the British Labour party has once again backed the Tories in voting against the SNP amendment.
“My colleagues and I in the SNP will continue to press for an immediate ceasefire, as backed by the United Nations. We will not give up in pressuring Westminster to do everything possible to help protect the lives of innocent civilians.”
