Three Labour MPs including the Solicitor General have attacked David Lammy over his embargo on some arms sales to Israel.
In a letter to the Foreign Secretary the trio warned Jewish voters were “upset and angry” over the move, which has been heavily criticised.
Their intervention comes amid deep splits within the party over how Sir Keir Starmer should respond to the increasingly drawn-out war in Gaza.
The MPs, all representing north London seats, include Sarah Sackman, who as Solicitor General is one of the Government’s top legal advisers.
Her involvement in the letter will prove embarrassing for the Prime Minister, who now faces a choice over whether to sack her for breaking ranks.
Ms Sackman insisted that she fully supported the Government’s position and that the letter was only setting out the concerns of her constituents.
Mr Lammy announced on Monday that he was suspending about 30 arms export licences, citing alleged Israeli breaches of humanitarian law.
In doing so he leant on advice from Government lawyers. It is unclear whether Ms Sackman was personally involved in drawing it up.
His decision prompted a furious response from Israel and caused fears among the backbench that the party is once again alienating Jewish voters.
Writing to him, the three MPs said constituents had “been in touch and expressed deep concern and upset” about the arms embargo decision.
They also warned that voters felt the decision would embolden Hamas and Iran, while damaging Britain’s relationship with Israel as a key ally.
“Many constituents are upset and angry about the timing of the announcement which, as you know, came shortly after the murder of six hostages by Hamas terrorists,” they wrote.
“There was particular anger that the announcement itself coincided with the funeral of one of the hostages, Hersh Goldberg-Polin.”
