How Jonathan Ashworth Failed to Vote for an Immediate Ceasefire

On Wednesday night Leicester’s two Labour MPs, Jonathan Ashworth and Liz Kendall, both failed to back a parliamentary motion that called for an “immediate ceasefire” in Gaza. Instead, in advance of the evenings Parliamentary meeting both Ashworth and Kendall were counted among the 141 MPs to have “added their names to the Labour amendment as of Wednesday lunchtime” – a motion which critically did not call for an immediate ceasefire. (Labour currently has 199 MPs.)

Unfortunately, the only vote taken in Parliament on Wednesday night was on this watered-down Labour motion which called for a far more amorphous type of ceasefire – the type of ceasefire that would be amenable for warmongers to vote on. In response to this outrageous act of cowardice, the following day Palestine Solidarity Campaign responded noting:

“People were appalled by the sight of political leaders playing parliamentary games, using backroom deals and shameful ruses all to impede a vote on a motion calling clearly for a ceasefire. Labour’s opposition to the SNP motion on the basis that it accused Israel of war crimes is testament to a complete failure of moral leadership. Is Keir Starmer seriously trying to assert that he doesn’t regard the bombing of schools, mosques and hospitals, the killing of over 12,000 children, the forced displacement of 1.7 million people and the denial of food, water and essential medical supplies as war crimes, even when Israel is on trial in the world’s highest court for the crime of genocide?” (February 22, 2024)

Liz Kendall, perhaps sensibly, chose not to post anything on her Facebook account about her position on the Gaza vote. But Jonathan Ashworth – who at least in the past has been critical of the Israeli regime – evidently felt under pressure to pretend that his vote was something that he should be proud of?! But in this case it would have been better if he had remained silent.

Nevertheless, shortly after the Parliamentary vote Ashworth took to social media, posting on Facebook at 19:22pm that “Parliament has been endorsed Labour’s demand for a ceasefire. Tonight I supported a ceasefire.” This led to a series of criticisms with one local Labour movement activist highlighting his lie, observing:

“We know you didn’t support a Ceasefire.

“People can watch Hüsam Zomlot talking to Krisnan Guru-Murthy on Channel 4 News tonight (Wednesday) for the truth of the war on Gaza and understand how you really voted.”

Normally Ashworth doesn’t reply to comments left on his own Facebook posts but last night he made an exception and in reply to this comment he repeated:

“just supported a ceasefire Liz, and Parliament had endorsed a ceasefire because of Labour’s motion,”

The informed activist then quickly responded at 19:51pm by correctly replying:

“You didn’t vote for an unconditional Ceasefire Jon and as Hüsam Zomlot Palestinian Ambassador to the UK said on Channel 4 News just now the British people can see what’s really happening and by you failing to vote for an unconditional Ceasefire more and more innocent Palestinians will be slaughtered.”

Ashworth then dropped back into silence, until that is late at night when at 23:31pm he started a new highly misleading thread on Facebook writing:

 “For all the Tory and SNP parliamentary games tonight the most important thing is Parliament has just endorsed Labour’s amendment for an immediate ceasefire, release of hostages, a surge in aid and recognition of a Palestinian state.”

Perhaps Ashworth could take a leaf from the far more principled public letter addressed to Labour Leader Sir Keir Starmer that was “unanimously endorsed” by Leicester’s “Labour Group” on Monday (February 19) which stated:

“The International Criminal Court (ICJ) on 26 January ruled there is ‘plausible’ genocide by Israel in Gaza and passed a judgement stating: Israel must take immediate steps to prevent genocidal actions in Gaza; prevent and punish incitement to genocide; allow access to humanitarian aid; and prevent the destruction and ensure the preservation of evidence of alleged crimes.

… We ask you as the Leader of the Opposition to urgently intervene and implore our government to put pressure on Israel to abide by the recommendations of the ICJ and for you to support a collective call for an immediate ceasefire.

“As such we are calling upon you to now publicly support the ICJ judgement of Israel ‘plausibly’ carrying out a genocide and if Israel refuses to comply by international law and the ICJ judgement we request you call for an immediate ban on selling military arms to Israel.”