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<\/p>\nRishi Sunak tonight piled pressure on Sir Keir Starmer by sacking a parliamentary aide who defied him by demanding a ‘permanent ceasefire’ in Gaza.<\/p>\n
The Prime Minister removed Paul Bristow from his Government role for rebelling against his stance on the Middle East crisis.<\/p>\n
The Peterborough MP will no longer serve as a Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak acted after Mr Bristow used social media to express his support for a ceasefire.<\/p>\n
He also wrote to the PM to push for an end to fighting between Israel and Hamas.<\/p>\n
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The Prime Minister removed Peterborough MP Paul Bristow from his Government role for rebelling against his stance on the Middle East crisis<\/p>\n
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Rishi Sunak, pictured today with his wife Akshata Murty, acted after Mr Bristow used social media to express his support for a ceasefire<\/p>\n
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Mr Bristow, who was elected MP for Peterborough at the 2019 general election, wrote on Facebook last week: ‘We need a ceasefire.’<\/p>\n
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Sir Keir Starmer is currently experiencing one of the biggest crises of his party leadership after a string of senior Labour figures defied his position on Israel<\/p>\n
No10 sources said Mr Bristow’s removal as a PPS showed how Mr Sunak was ‘ruthless’ compared to ‘spineless’ Sir Keir.<\/p>\n
The Labour leader is currently experiencing one of the biggest crises of his party leadership after a string of senior figures defied his position on Israel.<\/p>\n
More than half a dozen Labour frontbenchers have publicly called for ceasefire in the Middle East.<\/p>\n
This is despite Sir Keir having repeatedly backed Israel’s right to defend itself in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks on 7 October.<\/p>\n
Despite the public rebellion against him, the Labour leader has shown little appetite for taking action against his revolting MPs.<\/p>\n
Mr Bristow, who was elected MP for Peterborough at the 2019 general election, wrote on Facebook last week: ‘Ordinary Palestinians are not Hamas.<\/p>\n
‘I struggle to see how Israel is any safer following thousands of deaths of innocent Palestinians.<\/p>\n
‘They should not suffer collective punishment for the crimes of Hamas. We need a ceasefire.’<\/p>\n
In his letter to the PM, which he also posted to social media, Mr Bristow added: ‘A permanent ceasefire would save lives and allow for a continued column of humanitarian aid can reach the people who need it the most.’<\/p>\n
Explaining Mr Sunak’s decision to sack Mr Bristow as a PPS in the wake of his comments, a senior Number 10 source said: ‘It’s very important we speak with one voice.<\/p>\n
‘There are real consequences in the Middle East and at home if we go wobbly.<\/p>\n
‘If we’d suffered a terror attack we’d expect our allies to support us in self defence.’<\/p>\n
Mr Sunak has expressed support for a ‘humanitarian pause’ in hostilies between Israel and Hamas\u00a0to allow for the safe delivery of aid to civilians.<\/p>\n
But the PM has continued to reject calls for a full ceasefire, with Downing Street Street arguing the move would ‘only serve to benefit Hamas’.<\/p>\n
A Number 10 spokesperson said: ‘Paul Bristow has been asked to leave his post in government following comments that were not consistent with the principles of collective responsibility.’<\/p>\n
Sir Keir has also supported a ‘humanitarian pause’ but has not backed a ceasefire, despite increasing pressure on him to do so from Labour MPs.<\/p>\n