Stop the killing – another local Labour Party votes for Gaza ceasefire motion

Ray Goodspeed (Leyton and Wanstead CLP member)

On Wednesday 22nd November, Leyton and Wanstead CLP (in East London) passed the following motion on the appalling situation in Gaza. The local Labour MP, John Cryer, has been Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party for many years. He did not vote for a ceasefire in Parliament, but abstained as per the official whip instructions.

He usually attends every meeting of the General Committee of the Constituency Labour Party (CLP) but did not, on this occasion, citing concerns regarding his own personal safety. He also chose not to participate in the meeting by zoom, as he has very often done previously.

The motion was passed overwhelmingly by GC delegates with only 2 votes against and one abstention.

There have been a number of demonstrations in the area since October 7th – focussing on his constituency office – expressing the anger of local residents at his position (see featured photo). Leyton and Wanstead has a very high percentage of residents in the Muslim community, particularly from Pakistani and Kashmiri backgrounds. The demonstrations have been notable for the large numbers of children attending – with homemade banners and their own poems.

The full text of the resolution is below.

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“Ceasefire now – stop the killing in Gaza

This CLP:

1. Condemns unreservedly the killing of 1,200 people by Hamas on October 7^th. No cause justifies such a horrific mass murder of civilians, including children.
2. Condemns the Israeli government’s attacks on Gaza, which, while claiming “the right of defence”, have resulted in the killing of over 14,000 Palestinians, including 5,600 children, over 33,000 injured and the displacement of 1.7 million Gazans.
3. Condemns the killing by Israeli settlers and the Israeli military of at least 130 Palestinians on the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem, and the displacement of hundreds of families.
4. Believes that the Israeli government’s actions in carrying out indiscriminate bombing of a densely populated civilian area, including the targeting of hospitals and other health facilities, refugee camps, schools and places of worship, are neither proportionate nor defensive, and have created a humanitarian catastrophe.
5. Considers that these actions, together with the imposition of a siege denying food, water, fuel and medicines constitute material breaches of international humanitarian law leading to multiple war crimes.
6. Considers that calling for a “humanitarian pause” can only result in a pause in the killing, leading to the deaths of thousands more civilians.
7. Notes that a YouGov poll suggests that 76% of the British public supports a ceasefire, and that only 8% opposes it.
8. Notes the huge demonstrations in Britain, Ireland and across the world demanding a ceasefire.

We therefore reaffirm our support for an immediate ceasefire and the lifting of the blockade, and call for:

1. The urgent provision of humanitarian relief, including food, water, fuel and medicines to the inhabitants of Gaza.
2. Release of all hostages and of all Palestinians detained since 7^th October.
3. An end to Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestinian land as set out in United Nations resolutions, its discrimination against Palestinians and illegal land seizures and settlement building.
4. Justice and human rights for Palestinians in both Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories and for all national, ethnic and religious communities.
5. A comprehensive settlement of Palestinian national aspirations.
6. Our MP John Cryer to support an immediate ceasefire.

(To be sent to all NEC members)”