According to a report by the BBC, a government minister’s assistant has been dismissed from his position after advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza. The British government has expressed its disapproval of Paul Bristow’s comments, citing a lack of alignment with the principle of collective responsibility.
In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister the previous week, Bristow had called for a “permanent ceasefire” in order to save lives and facilitate aid delivery to those in need. The British government, on the other hand, supports “humanitarian pauses” but not a full ceasefire.
During a recent session of Prime Minister’s Questions, Rishi Sunak addressed the ongoing Gaza conflict and proposed the idea of implementing “specific pauses” to enable the delivery of additional aid to the region. However, he firmly rejected calls to support a ceasefire, emphasizing Israel’s legitimate right to self-defense.
A spokesperson from Downing Street stated, “Paul Bristow has been asked to resign from his government position due to comments that do not align with the principles of collective responsibility.” Collective responsibility is a well-established practice in which all government members are expected to publicly endorse government policies, irrespective of their personal reservations or disagreements.
Paul Bristow, who serves as the Conservative MP for Peterborough and held the position of Parliamentary Private Secretary to Michelle Donelan, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology, voiced his concerns in the letter. In it, he expressed his deep sorrow for the heartbreaking humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where thousands have lost their lives and over one million people have been displaced.
Bristow questioned the effectiveness of these actions in enhancing Israel’s security or improving the overall situation, particularly in light of the impact on some of his constituents who were directly affected by the conflict.
Notably, more than 17% of the population in Mr. Bristow’s Peterborough constituency is Muslim, as indicated by the latest census. This constituency is considered a marginal seat, which he won with a majority of 2,580 votes in the last general election, defeating the Labour candidate.