SNP To Back Labour's Gaza Ceasefire Amendment

Labour may have managed to avoid a row with its own MPs after the SNP announced their intention to back Labour's amendment to its motion for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Appearing on Sky News, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said his party would now back the Labour amendment.

“The Scottish National Party has always been fully committed to an immediate ceasefire, of course the Labour amendment calls for an immediate ceasefire so we will be supporting that," he said. 

"I similarly hope that when it comes to a vote on the SNP motion which of course is indeed also in favour of an immediate ceasefire but recognises the collective punishment of the Palestinian people, that the Labour Party will support us as well."

Flynn's remarks came after House of Commons Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, told MPs in parliament that multiple amendments would be voted on in Wednesday's vote on the SNPs motion for a ceasefire.

His decision to allow multiple amendments is against convention, and prompted shouts of frustration from Conservative benches as he announced it to MPs. The decision will see Labour's amendment voted on first, then the government's, then the SNPs original ceasefire motion.

"This is a highly sensitive subject on which feelings are running high in the House and the nation," said Hoyle.

"I think it's important on this occasion that the House is able to consider the widest possible range of options, I have therefore decided to select the amendments both in the name of the Prime Minister, and in the name of the leader of the opposition."

The key difference between Labour's amendment and the SNP's original motion is Labour specifying that a ceasefire must be on "humanitarian" grounds. The SNP also accuse Israel of "collective punishment" of