Matt Western was not among the 56 Labour MPs who went against Keir Starmer and voted in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Labour leader was yesterday (November 15) hit by a major rebellion as an SNP-led amendment to the King's Speech calling for "all parties to agree to an immediate ceasefire" in Gaza was voted down.

MPs voted 293 to 125 against the amendment - with MP for Warwick and Leamington Matt Western among those siding with Mr Starmer and the government.

Explaining his decision, Mr Western took to social media to say while he does support a ceasefire, it can only come under certain conditions, labelling the SNP amendment a "political ploy" designed to "divide us".

"Speaking in the House of Commons chamber, I made clear my support for an urgent ceasefire/cessation of hostilities in Gaza-Israel," he said. 

"In my short intervention, I focused on the reality of making this happen: the need for Hamas to release all of the Israeli hostages and the need for Israel to release all the illegally detained Palestinian prisoners.

"Only then would a ceasefire be possible."

He added: "I didn't vote for the SNP amendment because it was a simple political ploy designed to divide us. 

"I voted for a realistic amendment in the strong belief that it will bring about a ceasefire."

Mr Western also criticised the government's "short-sighted" plans saying they lacked "substance".

He went on to say he backed a "realistic" Labour amendment to the speech calling for a pause in the fighting to allow more humanitarian aid in. This was defeated in the House of Commons vote.