Anti-war protesters will stage simultaneous peace vigils outside the offices of all 4 Cardiff Labour MPs the evening before a parliamentary vote on an SNP motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
The “Ceasefire Now” vigils will all take place on Tuesday 20 February at 6 pm outside the constituency offices of Jo Stevens, Kevin Brennan, Stephen Doughty and Anna McMorrin.
All four MPs previously refused to vote in favour of the UK Parliament calling for an immediate ceasefire when a similar vote was held on 15th November last year.
Since then 17,892 Paletininas have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Safia Ahmed, a Butetown resident and constituent of Stephen Doughty, explained why it was crucial to pressure MPs to act now.
“As someone who works with children, I struggle with the fact that more than 11,000 children have been killed in Gaza,” she said. “I can’t imagine the horror and the daily terror these parents and families have put through for the past 4 months. They don’t even have time to grieve and bury their loved ones, no shelter left, no food, no water, and are still bombed and sniped on the streets daily.”
“The government wants schools to instil values so students become ethical, informed citizens, yet they ignore these very same values and are yet to back the only humanitarian option left, a ceasefire now”.
Cardiff Central MP Jo Stevens has faced some of the fiercest criticism and regular protests outside her constituency office in the Roath area of Cardiff. Large numbers of residents reported writing to Stevens ahead of the last ceasefire vote in Parliament, only to be told that an immediate ceasefire was the wrong approach because it “always freezes any conflict in its current state” and would only embolden Hamas.
Now, with almost 18,000 more Palestinians dead, the majority of Gaza’s building destroyed, over a million made homeless in the area and Israel facing a full genocide hearing in the International Court of Justice, Labour is finding its position increasingly untenable.
Adam Johannes from Cardiff Stop the War Coalition, a group organising the protests, said the MPs stood clearly on the wrong side of history.
“The extremist position of MPs such as Jo Stevens, Kevin Brennan, Stephen Doughty and Anna McMorrin in continuing to obstruct pressure for an immediate ceasefire to bring an end to this terrible war places them on the wrong side of history, out of touch with the majority of the public who want an immediate ceasefire,” he said. “We are calling for everyone in Cardiff who supports an immediate ceasefire to gather outside the office of their MP at 6 pm on Tuesday night”.
Benedict Bond, who lives and works in the Cardiff North constituency expressed disappointment with his MP, Anna McMorrin, who he has voted for in the past.
“I’ve found observing what’s happening in Gaza from afar incredibly distressing and have written to Anna multiple times,” he said.
“When she has responded she doesn’t address the points I raise and instead makes biased and untrue statements. She claims Labour have been clear that International law must be followed but this is a lie as the Labour Party is not condemning the blatant war crimes being committed by Israel. Worse than that their leader stated Israel has the right to collectively punish Gaza by cutting off water and power. That is a war crime. Everything she says is framed from the Israeli side with the killing and suffering of Palestinians minimised.”
“I voted for Anna at the last general election and though disappointed with the overall election results took solace that she kept her seat. When I met her in person, from both canvassing on my doorstep and seeing her in Hailey Park walking my dog, she came across as a reasonable and compassionate person. However she clearly cares more about her political career than ethnic cleansing and genocide. I hope she finds her conscience and calls for a ceasefire, although calling for a ceasefire is only a starting point and we need so much more from our politicians.”
There has been a backlash from Labour voters across the board and particularly amongst Muslims, who make up a key plank of the party’s electoral base. As Israel states its intention to invade Rafah, where over half a million Palestinians reside after being assured by Israel it was safe, the anger has forced Keir Starmer to present himself as being more in favour of a ceasefire, though it is still unclear how the party will vote on Wednesday.
Marzooq, an A-Level student said he would be joining a protest outside the office of his MP, Stephen Doughty.
“I am protesting for Palestine and Gaza because I believe that we ought to put as much effort as possible into eradicating injustice and ultimately doing the right thing. Even if our individual actions are miniscule, our collective, united combination of efforts can create positive change.”
“In Cardiff, that means raising awareness and pressuring our politicians to use their power to bring us closer to ending a literal genocide and the brutal deaths of thousands of innocent men, women, and children.”
The vigils come as a recent YouGov poll said two-thirds of Britons think Israel should stop its military action and call a ceasefire, with less than quarter of the public believing Israel’s attack on Gaza is justified.
It has not just Labour MPs that have faced anger from voters. The Tory Pembrokeshire MP, Stephen Crabb, has seen loud and angry protests outside his constituency office in Haverfordwest. The former Secretary of State for Wales, Alan Cairns, was also forced to meet a Palestinian constituent after local people held vigils outside his office.
