The way yesterday’s debate (21/02/24) was handled did not reflect the gravity of the issues being debated and I will briefly explain what occurred.
As you may have heard in the media, following an unprecedented intervention by the Speaker, requested by the Leader of the Labour Party, a vote was not held on the SNP motion. This is highly unusual, so the SNP are right to complain about being denied a chance to push their motion to a vote.
For background, on an opposition day normally the motion submitted by the party whose day it is will be voted on first, to decide if it should stand unamended, then any amendment submitted by the Government will be considered. Unusually the Speaker selected two amendments to the SNP Motion, the Government’s and the Labour Party’s, deciding the Labour Party’s motion should be the first to be voted on.
The Speaker’s decision was announced following a bizarre series of events which delayed the start of the debate. Labour MPs decided to speak and vote against a motion being brought by a Government Backbencher which aimed to bring in a bill supported by the Community Transport Association to assist with getting more volunteer drivers. It was hard to identify what exactly they wished to object to, other than the move being a way of delaying the start of debate on the SNP motion.
To produce a clear vote on the SNP Motion, as had been expected, the Government withdrew its amendment in an attempt to persuade the Speaker to instead take the SNP Motion first, then the Labour Amendment. This was refused, leaving only the Labour motion. Whilst this was passed, it is wrong the SNP did not have the chance to press their case to a vote.
Turning to the issue itself I want to see an end to the terrible suffering in Gaza as soon as possible and for the fighting to stop now. I support the UK Government’s position, which is calling for an immediate pause to get aid in and hostages out, then progress towards a sustainable, permanent ceasefire, without a return to destruction, fighting and loss of life.
There are several vital elements for a lasting peace, including the release of all hostages; the authority of the Palestinian Authority covering Gaza & the West Bank (A vital part of any moves to a two state solution), accompanied by an international support package; removing Hamas’ capacity to launch attacks against Israel; Hamas no longer being in charge of Gaza; and a political process which provides a credible and irreversible pathway towards a two-state solution. My ministerial colleagues tabled an amendment to the debate motion setting out this position, but withdrew it given the unprecedented attempts to avoid a vote on the SNP Motion I outline above.
The UK remains committed to getting humanitarian aid to the people in Gaza who desperately need it. The Government is getting on with aid delivery, funding multiple implementing partners including other UN agencies and international and UK NGOs. This support is helping people in Gaza get food, water, shelter and medicines.
The commitment to trebling aid to Gaza still stands and the UK is providing £60 million in humanitarian assistance to support partners including the British Red Cross, UNICEF, the UN World Food Programme and Egyptian Red Crescent Society to respond to critical food, fuel, water, health, shelter and security needs in Gaza.
The UK will continue to support the United Nations World Food Programme to deliver a new humanitarian land corridor from Jordan into Gaza. 750 tonnes of life-saving food aid arrived in the first delivery and 315 tonnes in the second delivery.
Finally, the UK continues to call for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) to be respected and civilians to be protected. The Government has previously assessed that Israel is committed and capable of complying with IHL, and regularly reviews its assessment.