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Labour MPs face key decision as Gaza ceasefire vote looms

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Live Reporting

Edited by Nathan Williams

All times stated are UK

  1. How will the Speaker decide?

    Henry Zeffman

    Chief political correspondent

    The question of which amendment or amendments are voted on is one for Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, who will make a decision this morning.

    He will take advice from his clerks on what to do, in accordance with Commons conventions.

    Some procedural experts believe it is most likely that Sir Lindsay will select only the government amendment.

    But it's very unusual for both the government and the main opposition party to be seeking to amend another opposition party’s motion - and as we saw in the fraught Brexit years, conventions are flexible.

  2. All eyes on Commons Speaker this morning

    Lindsay Hoyle
    Copyright: UK Parliament

    How the day plays out will depend on the choices made by Sir Lindsay Hoyle - the Commons Speaker.

    This is because the government has put its own amendment to the SNP motion, calling for "an immediate humanitarian pause".

    It's up to Hoyle to choose which amendment to pick - and given there is a government motion it's less likely he will choose the Labour one for debate. This threatens to expose Labour splits over the issue.

    So, all eyes on Hoyle.

  3. SNP welcomes Labour ceasefire call

    Stephen Flynn gestures as he speaks to MPs in the House of Commons
    Copyright: PA Media

    As we’ve been reporting, MPs will vote later today on the SNP’s call for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.

    It is the second such motion tabled by the party. The previous vote, in November, saw ten Labour frontbenchers quit to support the SNP’s position.

    Now, Labour is for the first time since the conflict broke out calling for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza - language it will pose as an amendment, or change, to the SNP’s.

    "We do have that broad consensus now for an immediate ceasefire, although the odd word is different," SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn told BBC Breakfast this morning.

    "Yesterday, I was pleased that after months and months of public and parliamentary pressure… the leader of the Labour party Sir Keir Starmer has changed his position," he added.

    "It was long overdue, but it’s good to have that consensus on the opposition benches," Flynn said.

    "That should put collective pressure on the UK government to change its stance."

    More on the two parties’ stances here.

  4. MPs to vote on SNP motion for Gaza ceasefire

    Hot on the heels of Prime Minister’s Questions, the Scottish National Party (SNP) will be using an opposition day vote, to call for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza war.

    Ten Labour frontbenchers quit in order to vote for the SNP's previous call for a ceasefire in November.

    Labour has since shifted its position - saying for the first time there should be an immediate humanitarian ceasefire.

    It's submitted an amendment to the SNP motion to try to avoid a repeat of the rebellion over the November vote.

    The party’s position is now practically much closer to the SNP’s - but Labour’s amendment emphasises to a greater extent the role of Hamas, as well as Israel, in bringing about a lasting ceasefire.

  5. Hello and welcome

    Nathan Williams

    Live reporter

    Good morning and welcome to our coverage of a busy day in the world of politics.

    We'll be covering Rishi Sunak taking questions at PMQs at midday, as well as a vote on the SNP's call for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza as part of an opposition day debate.

    That won't take place until later this afternoon, but it has been the subject of days of debate – particularly when it comes to Labour.

    The party has tabled its own amendment to the bill, which aims to appease some tension within its ranks.

    But now that might not even see the light of day, after the government put forward its own amendment – threatening to expose Labour division over the issue.

    You'll be able to follow events live by clicking the Play button at the top of the page.

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