Paul Bristow, the Ministerial Aide and Conservative MP for Peterborough, has been dismissed from his role over comments made calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Downing Street stated that Mr Bristow’s comments “were not consistent with the principles of collective responsibility”. In a letter addressed to the prime minister, Mr Bristow argued that a permanent ceasefire would help save lives and allow aid to reach those who needed it the most. The government currently supports “humanitarian pauses”, but not a full ceasefire. During Prime Minister’s Questions last week, Rishi Sunak emphasised that Israel had a right to defend itself and rejected calls to back a ceasefire, stating that “specific pauses” would be more appropriate to allow aid into Gaza.
Collective responsibility mandates that all members of the government publicly support government policy, even if they personally disagree with it. Mr Bristow’s dismissal was therefore a result of his breach of collective responsibility rules. As a Parliamentary Private Secretary – the lowest ministerial position – Mr Bristow worked under Michelle Donelan, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology.
In his letter to the prime minister, Mr Bristow expressed sympathy towards his constituents and stated that he was “deeply grieved by the heart-breaking and devastating humanitarian crisis now unfolding in Gaza.” He also questioned how the conflict would make Israel more secure or improve the situation. Peterborough is a marginal constituency, with over 17% of individuals identifying as Muslim.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza has been ongoing and tense, with numerous deaths and injuries recorded on both sides. The international community is urging both parties to reach a peaceful resolution quickly
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