Brentford & Isleworth MP Ruth Cadbury, abstained from a SNP amendment calling on the government to agree to an "immediate ceasefire" between Israel-Hamas.

In the House of Commons yesterday (15 November), the Scottish National Party (SNP) put forward a motion to the house to vote for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The SNP's pro-ceasefire amendment did not pass, with 293 votes against it and 125 for it.

Ms Cadbury voted for 'amendment r' to the King's Speech which called for an end to violence in Israel and Palestine, condemned the terrorist attacks by Hamas and supported Israel's right to defend its people.

'Amendment r' also expressed concern for civilian suffering, reaffirmed the UK's commitment to international law, called on Israel to protect hospitals and ease conditions in Gaza and advocated for a two-state solution with humanitarian assistance for Gaza's people.

Despite condemning the conflict in Gaza, the Brentford & Isleworth MP abstained to 'ammendment h' which would have seen the government "urgently pressing all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire."

After the vote, Ms Cadbury said: "I voted for amendment r to the King's Speech as it most closely reflected my views and my thinking, and how best I believe we should approach the horrific conflict that we have seen.

"I am disappointed that the Government MPs voted against this amendment, and indeed that the Government Minister, Chris Philps, in his winding-up speech omitted to mention the loss of life of well over 10,000 Gazan civilians."

The Brentford & Isleworth MP was in line with the Labour party's whip ahead of the vote yesterday, to not vote for the SNP motion calling for a ceasefire, but 56 labour MPs were not.

Ms Cadbury added: "I know that a large number of constituents asked me to support another amendment which I did not oppose, because I supported amendment r which better reflected my own views on the conflict, and the approach that I believe the Government should take.

"As an opposition and Government-in-waiting I believe we have a duty to find a credible and sustainable approach which addresses these complex international issues."

Following the vote Labour party leader, Keir Starmer, said: "At every stage during this crisis, my approach has been driven by the need to respond to both these tragedies.

"To stand by the right to self-defence of any nation which suffers terrorism on this scale, alongside the basic human rights and dignity of innocent Palestinians caught, once again, in the crossfire.

"Alongside leaders around the world, I have called throughout for adherence to international law, for humanitarian pauses to allow access for aid, food, water, utilities and medicine, and have expressed our concerns at the scale of civilian casualties.

"Much more needs to be done in this regard to ease the humanitarian crisis that is unfolding in Gaza."

He added: "I regret that some colleagues felt unable to support the position tonight. But I wanted to be clear about where I stood, and where I will stand.

"Leadership is about doing the right thing. That is the least the public deserves."

Since the vote yesterday, the Labour party has seen 10 labour frontbenchers quit their roles.

Full voting list of SNP's motion to amend the King's Speech can be found here.

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