A British ministerial aide, Paul Bristow, has been sacked from his government role after calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The decision to remove Bristow from his position came in response to comments that were deemed “not consistent with the principles of collective responsibility,” Downing Street spokesperson said, according to state media.
Bristow had penned a letter to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak last week, urging a change in the government’s stance on the conflict and supporting a “permanent” cessation of hostilities.
In his letter, Bristow argued that a full ceasefire would save lives and facilitate the delivery of much-needed humanitarian aid to the affected population.
Meanwhile, the government supports “humanitarian pauses” but not a full ceasefire.
“specific pauses would allow more aid into Gaza but he rejected calls to back a ceasefire, stressing that Israel had a right to defend itself,” PM Rishi Sunak said last week.
Mr. Bristow, who serves as the Conservative MP for Peterborough, held the role of Parliamentary Private Secretary, the lowest ministerial rank, to Michelle Donelan, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation, and Technology.
After being sacked by Mr Sunak, he told the BBC: “I completely understand the PM’s decision. And it is with regret I leave a job I enjoyed. “But I can now talk openly about an issue so many of my constituents care deeply about.
“I believe I can do this better from the backbenches rather than as part of the government payroll.”
