Vicky Foxcroft, Labour MP for Lewisham & Deptford, has been criticised by residents for a speech she made last week in Parliament in which she called for aid to get through to Gaza, but made no mention of a ceasefire.
Foxcroft spoke in Parliament last week asking: “What action is the government taking to prevent more children from being harmed in Israel’s military action, and to ensure a rapid end to this conflict?”
Jamila Hanan replied on X, formerly known as Twitter: “Calling for a rapid end but no cease-fire? The massacres are rapidly accelerating. Gaza is heading towards a rapid and devastating end with British support. Better to call for our inaction, rather than more action.”
Foxcroft has also faced criticism from residents in the constituency for not signing an early-day motion (EDM) tabled by Richard Burgon, Labour MP for Leeds East. The motion, signed by 95 MPs called for “the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary to urgently press all parties to agree to an immediate de-escalation and cessation of hostilities”.
Foxcroft responded in an automated email reply stating: “Please note I am currently not able to sign EDMS due to my position as a shadow minister. I am, however, always happy to find alternative ways of raising issues.”
The UK Parliament website states that “Ministers, Whips and Parliamentary Private Secretaries do not normally sign EDMs.”
“Internal party rules may also affect who can sign early day motions.”
EastLondonLines has reached out to Vicky Foxcroft for comment.
Responses across the other ELL boroughs have been mixed: Apsana Begum, Labour MP for Tower Hamlets and Dianne Abbot, Labour MP for Hackney, have both signed the motion. Sarah Ann Jones, Tory MP for Croydon has not.
Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour party, has called for “humanitarian pauses” but in a speech made on October 31, he refused to back a permanent ceasefire.
Starmer said a ceasefire “always freezes any conflict in the state where it currently lies” and would only “embolden” Hamas militants.
Starmer has assured rebelling senior Labour MPs that he will “continue engaging” with them over approaches to the conflict in the Middle East.
More than 150 Muslim Labour councillors have also signed a letter to Starmer, urging him to back a ceasefire on behalf of the Labour Party.
This week, Conservative MP Paul Bristow, was sacked after publicly backing a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
