Sir Keir Starmer calls for Gaza ‘ceasefire that’s last’

He was speaking at a Scottish Labour conference in Glasgow, a day after it passed a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.

On Wednesday, there will be a SNP-led vote in the Commons on an immediate ceasefire, three months after 56 Labour MPs backed a previous SNP motion.

The situation puts Sir Keir under fresh pressure over his stance on the crisis.

Speaking to delegates on Sunday, Sir Keir said everyone wanted an end to the fighting, "not just for now, not just for a pause, but permanently".

A ceasefire that lasts. This is what must happen now. The fighting must stop now."

But the Labour leader stopped short of using the word "immediate" which is what the SNP is calling for in terms of a ceasefire announcement.

Earlier, David Lammy said Labour would be scrutinising the SNP motion ahead of the vote, but he said that any proposal must include a permanent solution to stop the conflict.

Speaking on BBC One's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, he said he was not convinced the proposed wording posted online gave details of a "sustainable" ceasefire - but said he had not seen the full motion.

He also warned parliamentary votes in the UK "will not bring about a ceasefire".

Mr Lammy said an agreement would need to come from Hamas, the Israeli government and "partners for peace saying the fighting must now stop".