Diane Abbott hit out at Sir Keir Starmer after he moved to stave off another Labour rebellion over Gaza.
Labour tabled an amendment to an SNP ceasefire motion which marks a shift in its position by calling for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
But Ms Abbott, who currently sits as an independent MP after losing the Labour whip over an antisemitism row, claimed the amendment is “full of weasel words” to get the party “off the hook”.
The Hackney North and Stoke Newington MP said in a post on X: “If Starmer really wanted a ceasefire he would table a simple amendment saying that. Instead he tables one full of weasel words.
“It gets Labour MPs under pressure off the hook, but means he can say afterwards his position has not changed.”
Sir Keir has come under intense pressure over his stance on the Israel-Hamas war.
He has previously called for a “sustainable ceasefire” but has stopped short of using the word “immediate”.
Dozens of Labour MPs rebelled to back a similar SNP motion on a Gaza ceasefire three months ago.
In an apparent attempt to get ahead of another possible rebellion on the SNP motion due to be voted on in the Commons tomorrow, Labour today tabled its own lengthy amendment.
A party spokesperson said: “Our amendment calls for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, in line with our allies.
“We need the hostages released and returned. We need the fighting to stop now. We need a massive humanitarian aid programme for Gaza. And any military action in Rafah cannot go ahead.
“There needs to be an end to violence on all sides. Israelis have the right to the security that the horror of October 7 cannot happen again.
“We want the fighting to stop now. We also have to be clear on how we prevent the violence starting up again. There will be no lasting peace without a diplomatic process that delivers a two-state solution, with a safe and secure Israel alongside a viable Palestinian state.”
The motion calls on MPs to “support Australia, Canada and New Zealand’s calls for Hamas to release and return all hostages and for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire, which means an immediate stop to the fighting and a ceasefire that lasts and is observed by all sides”.
Shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said Labour had shifted because of “huge concern” about Israel’s planned offensive in Rafah where more than a million Palestinians are sheltering and the “tremendous humanitarian catastrophe” in the territory.
The SNP’s motion is shorter and calls for “an immediate ceasefire” without some of the qualification attached by Labour.
