‘Heavy heart’: Jess Phillips’ letter of resignation in full

Birmingham Yardley MP leaves Labour frontbench after voting against party whip on Israel-Hamas conflict

Jess Phillips has become the most high-profile Labour MP to quit the frontbench over Keir Starmer's stance on Gaza, after voting in the Commons for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Birmingham Yardley MP said it was with a heavy heart" that she quit the Labour frontbench and her role of shadow domestic abuse and safeguarding minister.

Dear Keir,

This week has been one of the toughest weeks in politics since I entered parliament. I have tried to do everything that I could to make it so that this was not the outcome, but it is with a heavy heart that I will be leaving my post in the shadow Home Office team.