Latest news with #BrendanO'Hara
The National
6 days ago
- General
- The National
'Red line for Palestine' protesters target Westminster
Demonstrators dressed in red to create a 'red line for Palestine' on Westminster Bridge and were visible and audible from the Commons terrace. The protest came as former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn prepared to present a bill calling for an official inquiry into the UK Government's role in facilitating the genocide in Gaza. At Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, it emerged that the Government had officially denied there was a genocide in the besieged Palestinian territory. READ MORE: Labour MPs visit Israel on lobbying trip in middle of Gaza genocide SNP MP Brendan O'Hara said: 'The Prime Minister has repeatedly told this House that it is not for him or his government to determine what is and what is not a genocide. But that position is no longer tenable because at the High Court recently, the Prime Minister instructed his lawyers to argue that in Gaza, and I quote, 'no genocide has occurred or is occurring'.' He challenged the Prime Minister to have the 'courage of his convictions' and repeat the claim, which Keir Starmer failed to do in his response.
The National
6 days ago
- General
- The National
Keir Starmer confronted over UK claim 'no genocide in Gaza'
SNP MP Brendan O'Hara, speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, revealed that Government lawyers had said that 'no genocide has occurred or is occurring' in the besieged Palestinian territory. Keir Starmer was confronted with the comments, made in the High Court, at Prime Minister's Questions. READ MORE: BBC defends its coverage of Gaza in White House row O'Hara said: 'The Prime Minister has repeatedly told this House that it is not for him or his government to determine what is and what is not a genocide. But that position is no longer tenable because at the High Court recently, the Prime Minister instructed his lawyers to argue that in Gaza, and I quote, 'no genocide has occurred or is occurring'. (Image: Fabrizio Villa, Getty Images) 'So the truth is, his government has made a determination. The question is: does he have the courage of his convictions and will he repeat from that despatch box what he told his lawyers to argue in the High Court? That he believes that no genocide has occurred or is occurring in Gaza?' Starmer did not back the lawyers' comments and responded with a jibe about the SNP's opposition to nuclear weapons. READ MORE: Labour MPs visit Israel on lobbying trip in middle of Gaza genocide He said: 'I have said that we are strongly opposed and appalled by Israel's recent actions, I've been absolutely clear in condemning them and calling them out; whether that's the expansion of military operations, settler violence or the dreadful blocking of aid, it's completely unacceptable. 'We must see a ceasefire, hostages must be released and there must be aid into Gaza. 'But he talks about peace and security, their party, as I understand it at this moment of global instability as we go into a new era, what do they want to do? They want to get rid of the nuclear deterrent, the single most important capability that we have to keep the UK safe, harming the industry and harming the country.'
The National
03-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Jeremy Corbyn to table Chilcot-style Gaza inquiry bill
The Independent MP and former Labour leader will present the Gaza (Independent Public Inquiry) Bill tomorrow (Wednesday, June 4), having secured a 10-minute-rule bill. The full text of the Bill reads: "Bill to make provision for; to require the inquiry to consider any UK military, economic or political cooperation with Israel since October 2023, including the sale, supply or use of weapons, surveillance aircraft and Royal Air Force bases; to provide the inquiry with the power to question Ministers and officials about decisions taken in relation to UK involvement; and for connected purposes." READ MORE: New poll shows Scots overwhelmingly back indy over Westminster direct rule Those supporting the Bill include SNP MP Brendan O'Hara, Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman and suspended Labour MP Zarah Sultana. The full list is below: Ayoub Khan MP (Independent) Adnan Hussain MP (Independent) Shockat Adam MP (Independent) Iqbal Mohamed (Independent) Zarah Sultana MP (Independent) Apsana Begum (Independent) Brian Leishman MP (Labour) Richard Burgon MP (Labour) Steve Witherden (Labour) Kim Johnson MP (Labour) Nadia Whittome MP (Labour) Ian Byrne (Labour) Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (Labour) Jon Trickett MP (Labour) Neil-Duncan Jordan MP (Labour) Ellie Chowns (Greens) Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru) Brendan O'Hara MP (SNP) If it goes to a vote, there are likely to be more supporters. A letter in March saw Corbyn urge Prime Minister Keir Starmer to back the inquiry, which received the cross-party support of 40 MPs. In his letter to Starmer, Corbyn pointed to the Chilcot inquiry finding serious failings within the UK Government. It said: 'History is repeating itself. Today, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 61,000. Two Israeli officials are now wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity. "Britain has played a highly influential role in Israel's military operations, including the sale of weapons, the supply of intelligence and the use of Royal Air Force (RAF) bases in Cyprus. "Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of democracy. Therefore, we are demanding an independent, public inquiry into the UK's involvement in Israel's military assault in Gaza. "This inquiry should establish exactly what decisions have been taken, how these decisions have been made, and what consequences they have had. Any meaningful inquiry would require the full co-operation from government ministers involved in decision-making processes since October 2023."
The Herald Scotland
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
SNP: UK can trace and stop F35 component supply to Israel
Stopping that contribution would mean the "they would not then be available to others around the world who desperately need them in the conflicts they are engaged in," he told MPs Around 15% of each F-35 – including the entire fuel system and the ejector seat – is manufactured in the UK. READ MORE Brendan O'Hara, the SNP's Middle East spokesperson, said it was possible to trace F-35 components, adding that it is 'an industry norm for serial numbers of components to be logged in order to maintain complete traceability, thereby allowing prevention of supply to an end user'. The SNP's call comes as Al-Haq, a group based in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, pursues legal action against the Department for Business and Trade over its decision to exempt F-35 parts from an arms export suspension affecting around 30 licences last year. The exemption followed warnings from the Ministry of Defence that including the jets would 'prejudice the entire global F-35 programme, due to its strategic role in Nato and wider implications for international peace and security'. Internal government documents revealed in court show Defence Secretary John Healey also warned Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds that suspending the licence would 'undermine US confidence in the UK and Nato'. Mr O'Hara said: 'Since the start, the Labour Party has repeatedly found themselves on the wrong side of this appalling destruction and slaughter of Gaza and the Palestinian people, and this flawed idea that they cannot end the supply of F-35 jet components simply does not stack up – Sir Keir Starmer can and must end their supply to Israel. 'Sir Keir Starmer cannot claim to be horrified by the mass starvation of children in Gaza, but then refuse to stop sending the jets that bomb them to pieces – these components can be traced and prevented from reaching Israel. 'While children are starving to death in Gaza, the UK Government writes condemnations on pieces of paper that do nothing for the people of Palestine – there is no credibility in giving assurances that the UK Government is doing its best to get aid in while helping supply the jets that drop bombs on the innocent people living there. 'Sir Keir Starmer might try and hide behind excuses, but what people in Scotland see is a UK Government that is refusing to end the supply of deadly fighter jets to an Israeli state determined to destroy Gaza. 'It is brutally and blatantly clear that the Netanyahu Government will continue to act with impunity unless and until there are consequences for their actions. "The real question now is just how much more suffering the people of Gaza have to bear before the UK Government and the international community finally act to the fullest extent available to them.' A UK Government spokesperson hit back at the SNP: 'As the Foreign Secretary has said, Israel's actions are intolerable and we want to see an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages, a surge of aid and a path towards long-term peace. 'This Government has at all times acted in a manner consistent with our legal obligations, which is why we have suspended all licences for items to the IDF that might be used in military operations in Gaza, based on our assessment that these could be used to commit or facilitate serious violations of International Humanitarian Law. 'As we have set out to Parliament, it is not currently possible to suspend licensing of F-35 components for use by Israel without prejudicing the entire global programme, which would have serious implications for international peace and security due to its crucial strategic role in the defence of NATO and other UK allies." READ MORE Last Wednesday, During Prime Minister's Questions, SNP MP Kirsty Blackman asked: 'If the Prime Minister agrees that the Israeli Government starving children to death is monstrous, why does he think it is okay for the UK to continue to sell Israel the equipment for the fighter jets to drop bombs on those starving children?' Sir Keir responded: 'What we contribute into a pot is parts for fighter jets, and if we were to stop that, they could not be used by other countries in other conflicts, including those in which we are involved... They are not sold directly. They go into a pot. If we were to stop that, they would not then be available to others around the world who desperately need them in the conflicts they are engaged in, and that is why we will not do it.'
