The war between Israel and Gaza has torn through the Labour Party, revealing a deep and painful divide that goes way beyond simple policy disagreements. The heated rows between Labour MPs—some pushing for an immediate ceasefire, others taking a more cautious, pro-Israel approach—have brought up an uncomfortable question that many politicians in Westminster would rather avoid: is British politics becoming worryingly split along religious and ethnic lines?
When Hamas attacked Israel on October 7th, 2023, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's initial strong support for Israel was meant to show a clear break from the Jeremy Corbyn years and reassure the Jewish community. But this stance quickly upset a large chunk of the party's Muslim supporters, as well as left-wing and humanitarian-focused MPs.
The Revolt From Within
The rebellion inside Labour says it all. Dozens of Labour MPs went against party orders to vote for a ceasefire, and several frontbenchers even quit their positions. This wasn't just about ideology—it was about representation. Many of these MPs serve areas with large Muslim populations who felt their pain and desperate calls to end the suffering in Gaza were being completely ignored by their own party.
This has created a real identity crisis for Labour. The party has always prided itself on being a broad coalition that brings together working-class people and minority communities. Now it's deeply split. For British Muslims, who have historically been loyal Labour voters and a key part of the party's election strategy, how Labour handled Gaza has been a wake-up call. Polls and the success of pro-Palestine independent candidates in traditional Labour strongholds show that many Muslim voters feel let down. This loss of support could be devastating in close-run seats.
When Identity Shapes Politics
While the main issue is humanitarian and about international politics, identity is clearly playing a huge role. The debate gets filtered through concerns about Islamophobia and antisemitism, which turns a complex human tragedy into political point-scoring. Jewish Labour members, worried about rising antisemitism and remembering the party's recent troubled past, want firm commitments on Israel's security. At the same time, Muslim members and their supporters feel their community is being ignored or even vilified when they speak up for Palestinian rights. They see a double standard in how the party applies its values.
This doesn't mean the whole UK is split by religion on this issue—surveys show many Britons either sympathize with both sides or feel torn. But within Labour's coalition, the Gaza conflict has highlighted fundamentally different worldviews, making it the biggest foreign policy crisis the party has faced in years.
The damage suggests that religious and ethnic identity now carries more political weight in the UK than ever before. The conflict hasn't just divided MPs—it's fractured the diverse voter base that Labour spent years carefully rebuilding. Moving forward, finding a way that respects both the Jewish community's security concerns and the genuine humanitarian outrage felt by Muslim and left-wing supporters remains one of Labour's biggest challenges. It might even be an existential one.
