Labour officials just suppressed 30 conference motions over Israel

Labour Party officials are attempting to stifle debate on Israel and Palestine at the party conference, to prevent calls for the government to take meaningful steps to end complicity in the Zionist entity’s genocide in Gaza. The disgraceful move comes amid the Labour government’s symbolic, but largely tokenistic – and entirely inadequate in isolation – recognition of recognition of a Palestinian state.

Labour conference sees shameless suppression of motions for Palestine and against Israel

Ahead of the party conference in Liverpool which begins on Sunday 28 September, the Conference Arrangements Committee (CAC) met on Thursday. It decided to rule out more than 30 motions constituency Labour Parties (CLPs) and affiliated organisations had submitted.  Shamefully, the CAC ruled out every motion on Palestine.

Contemporary motions at conference have to meet the criteria that the issue must not have been substantially addressed in the National Policy Framework (NPF) Annual Report 2025 which was published on 8 August. It ruled out of order the overwhelming majority of Palestine motions on the grounds that the motions do:

not relate to a new issue not substantially covered in the NPF report.

This is despite the fact many focused on events that took place after the NPF Report was published. This includes the announcement of the Israeli government’s plans to militarily occupy Gaza City on 8 August. And, on the 10 August, Israel murdered five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza City.

The motions also make demands on the Labour Party that the NPF Report does not include. For instance, one calls for an end to all arms trade and military cooperation with Israel. Others urge comprehensive sanctions, and a ban on trade that aides or assists Israel’s violations of international law.

A three-fold increase in Palestine motions: growing anger at the Labour leadership’s position

The number of motions sent to the Labour conference demanding the party takes more action on Israel and Palestine has dramatically increased since last year. In 2024, CLPs and affiliated organisations sent just three motions to conference. This ten-fold increase shows the growing level of anger from the grassroots at the leadership’s position. Recent polling has found that 72% of Labour’s 2024 voters want a full arms embargo on Israel.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) director Ben Jamal said:

Just days after a UN Commission of Inquiry confirmed that Israel has committed and is committing genocide in Gaza, it is shocking that Labour officials are trying to block a large influx of motions in solidarity with Palestine from being debated at this year’s party conference. By continuing to deny that Israel is committing genocide, the government seems determined to ignore the overwhelming evidence as well as growing public outrage at its ongoing failure to take meaningful action to end British complicity with Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people. The government needs to accept that it cannot simply clamp down and silence those speaking out against Israel’s genocide. Labour Party members must be allowed to debate these issues in Liverpool.

John McDonnell MP said:

With more than 30 motions on Palestine submitted to this year’s Labour party conference, it is clear that party members see Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people as a major issue that needs to be raised on conference floor. This week’s landmark report by a UN Commission of Inquiry, that concluded Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, should be a wake-up call. The government should join those including Sadiq Khan who have spoken out this week to make clear that what we are witnessing in Gaza is genocide and urgently implement sanctions, including a full arms embargo and a ban on all trade that aids or assists Israel’s crimes against the Palestinian people. Delegates must not be prevented from discussing these issues at conference.

Feature image via YouTube/ the Telegraph