Opinion: Neoconservatives and Islamophobes, not Muslims, are the real threat to British democracy

In all the furore that accompanied the House of Commons vote calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the substance of the debate has been completely forgotten.

The Scottish National Party (SNP) motion calling for an immediate ceasefire would have embarrassed a Labour leadership that has spent the last five months of homicidal bombing of Gaza avoiding saying just that.

The SNP motion was clear, unequivocal and totally in line with public opinion in the British Isles.

The SNP called for an immediate ceasefire without conditions. The Labour motion handed the Israeli government a right of veto, by insisting that Hamas release its hostages as a precondition for the ceasefire to start.

Labour's call for "an immediate humanitarian ceasefire" was no such thing, as it allowed Israel to carry on fighting.

Read more: Neoconservatives and Islamophobes, not Muslims, are the real threat to British democracy