A Labour MP and member of Sir Keir Starmer’s shadow cupboard says she feels “shocked”, “angry” and “frightened” after her constituency workplace was vandalised.
Shadow Welsh secretary and Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens’ workplace was sprayed with the phrase “murderer” and lined with posters saying she had “blood” on her palms, following a pro-Palestine demonstration on Thursday night.
It got here a day after a vote in parliament through which 56 Labour MPs defied the social gathering whip to help an modification by the SNP that referred to as for a direct ceasefire in Gaza.
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More than 11,000 Palestinians, together with greater than 4,000 kids, have been killed in Israeli strikes within the territory since 7 October, in keeping with Gaza’s Hamas-run well being ministry. More than 1,200 Israelis have been killed in Hamas’ assaults on 7 October, Israel says.
Ms Stevens abstained on the SNP modification together with nearly all of her colleagues.
She informed Sky News the SNP modification was a “political tactic” designed to stoke “division”.
“What has happened to me is the responsibility of the people who did those criminal acts,” she mentioned.
“But it [the SNP amendment] was a political tactic that was executed to create division, and it has succeeded in doing that.
“And I’m absolutely sure that is of no help whatsoever to the people in Gaza and Israel.”
Asked for a response to Ms Stevens’ criticism, an SNP spokesperson reiterated the social gathering’s help for a direct ceasefire in Gaza and Israel and mentioned it might “continue to press the UK government to join the UN and international community in calling for one”.
“Our amendment was backed by MPs from across political parties, trade unions and human rights groups – and a ceasefire has the support of the majority of the public,” they mentioned.
“Thousands of innocent children and civilians have already been killed in Israel and Gaza – in clear breach of international law.
“It is important that the UK joins the rising worldwide momentum for a ceasefire to be able to save lives and uphold worldwide legislation.”
Calls for a ceasefire in Gaza have divided Sir Keir’s party and led to the major rebellion on Wednesday.
The Labour leader has said that while he wants to “alleviate the struggling” of civilians in Gaza by providing further humanitarian aid, he does not support a ceasefire on the grounds it would “embolden” Hamas and allow the group to carry out further terror attacks.
Eight members of the shadow frontbench – together with distinguished MP Jess Phillips – both resigned or have been sacked from their posts after voting in favour of the SNP ceasefire modification.
In her resignation letter, Ms Phillips mentioned she was resigning with a “heavy heart”, however that she may see “no route where the current military action does anything but put at risk the hope of peace and security for anyone in the region now and in the future”.
Ms Stevens mentioned a few of the messages left on her workplace accused her of “supporting genocide” and “being responsible for the deaths of babies”.
She mentioned she had typically been compelled to shut her constituency workplace early on the times protests have been happening for the protection of her workers.
The constituency workplace of Labour MP Jo Stevens in Albany Road, Cardiff
She added: “I just feel angry, but I also feel frightened about it because since I’ve been elected, I’ve had my office attacked and vandalised from people from the far right when I was helping Syrian refugees in 2016, and now I’ve got the same thing from people on the far left.
“I need individuals to grasp that what I need to see occur as rapidly as potential, I believe is what they need to see occur as rapidly as potential.”
A protest takes place outdoors the workplace of Labour MP Rushanara Ali.
Other MPs to have additionally confronted protests over their stance on Gaza, together with Rushanara Ali, the Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow who additionally abstained on the SNP modification.
Sky News has additionally been informed of instances the place MPs have acquired demise threats or had their dwelling addresses posted on-line.
Content Source: information.sky.com