Keir Starmer’s government struggling to convince MPs and public it is doing enough for civilians starving in Gaza
When David Lammy stood at the dispatch box to deliver a statement condemning Israel’s killing of starving civilians in Gaza on Monday, he was met with anger from MPs.
“We want action, and this is not action,” thundered one Labour MP. Another questioned: “Is this it?” A third asked: “At what point does our basic humanity require us to take stronger action? Many of us think the red line was passed a long time ago.”
The fury across the Commons was evident. “Are words enough?” asked one veteran Tory. A second accused Lammy of “complicity by inaction” and warned it could land him at the international court of justice in The Hague. A Lib Dem highlighted that repeated UK expressions of regret had not prevented further carnage.
A clearly despairing Lammy attempted to reassure the politicians the government was playing its part. “Me raising my voice will not bring this war to an end. I lament that and I regret that. But am I sure that the UK government are doing everything in our power? Yes, I am.”
