In a move that has put Labour leader Keir Starmer’s leadership under strain, Imran Hussain, MP for Bradford East, has resigned from his position as shadow levelling up minister in protest over the party’s stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Hussain, who represents a constituency with a large Muslim population, said he could no longer “sufficiently in all good conscience” serve as a shadow minister while he believed that a ceasefire was essential to ending the bloodshed in Gaza and ensuring that aid could reach those in need.
His resignation comes as a number of senior Labour MPs have criticized Starmer’s handling of the issue, arguing that his refusal to call for a ceasefire has alienated many party members and grassroots supporters.
The Labour leader has defended his position, arguing that a ceasefire would freeze the status quo and that Hamas’s actions made it untenable. However, Hussain and other critics argue that Starmer’s stance is morally indefensible and that the party has a duty to speak out against the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Hussain’s resignation is a significant blow to Starmer, who is already facing criticism from within his own party over a number of issues, including his handling of the cost of living crisis and his perceived lack of charisma.
It remains to be seen whether Hussain’s resignation will prompt Starmer to change his position on Gaza. However, the growing dissent within the party suggests that Starmer is facing a difficult task in trying to appease both sides of the debate.