Hyndburn's Full Council meeting has passed a Green party motion urging the government to step selling weapons to Israel and impose sanctions on its leaders because of the conflict in Gaza.

Six Labour councillors abstained in the vote at the meeting in Accrington Town Hall on Thursday night but six voted for it.

Proposed by Peel ward's Councillor Paddy Short it said: " This council notes the continuing rising death toll, starvation of Gaza citizens, displacement and devastation to homes, infrastructure and environment in Gaza and the continuing threat of escalation beyond Israel, Gaza and the occupied territories.

"This council believes residents are rightly concerned about the situation in the Middle East, its impact directly on people in our communities and upon community relations, and the rising tide of incidents of both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia."

He asked the council resolve to write to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and leader of the Labour Party Keir Starmer calling on the UK government and Labour Party to:

  • Demand Israel stop the killing and implement an immediate ceasefire and Hamas must also agree to this ceasefire and release all hostages.
  • Call on the UK government to suspend all arms export licences to Israel until the killing stops, and to cease all military collaboration with Israel, including allowing Israeli use of British bases and RAF intelligence flights over Gaza.
  • Further call on the UK government and Labour Party to withdraw all public money from funds with investments in Israel, and end beneficial trade arrangements with Israel.

Cllr Short added: "We believe we can increase the pressure on Israeli leaders by introducing targeted sanctions."

Hyndburn Council's acting leader, Cllr Peter Britcliffe, said after the meeting: "One of Labour's deputy leaders Cllr Kate Walsh said its councillors should abstain yet six voted for the motion.

"The party has suspended councillors in London for voting for a similar Green Party motion. What action is Hyndburn Labour going to take?"

Labour group deputy leader Cllr Noordad Aziz said: "It was not a whipped vote.

"Hyndburn Labour councillors can vote with their conscience.

"The language used was not language I would use personally and therefore with a heavy heart I abstained.

"It is clear Hyndburn Conservatives are unhappy with their MP Sara Britcliffe and the government's position on the Gaza conflict."

Cllr Britcliffe said: "My daughter Sara and I have both publicly agreed with the government's position on the need for a humanitarian ceasefire and that action is needed soon."