Labour MP Refuses To Commit To Enforcing Arrest Warrant For Benjamin Netanyahu Being Weighed By ICC

Labour frontbencher Bridget Phillipson refused to say if Labour would enforce international law should the International Criminal Court (ICC) decide to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Phillipson’s attempt to deflect the topic into an attack on the Tories, emphasising that “the international rule of law matters” to her party but perhaps not their rivals, fell through as BBC Question Time host Fiona Bruce pressed her for a commitment she would not offer.

Asked whether Labour would welcome the intervention from the ICC, Phillipson said: “I think the rule of law matters. I think the international rule of law matters. It used to matter to the Conservative Party as well. It matters to me.”

She continued: “There is a process to go through. It’s absolutely right that the process happens. If that’s what the Chief Prosecutor has determined, but this is only the first step. There has been no conclusion reached on this topic.”

Host Fiona Bruce pressed Phillipson on her stance: “Given that Labour is taking a different position, I’m keen to explore it because, as I say, we’re in a general election. You may be in power come the second week of July.”

Rounding up to the arrest warrants applications, the host asked: “If this goes ahead through the ICC, and you say you support the ICC and the rule of law, you would be in the position as a government where you would have to arrest Benjamin Netanyahu should he come to this country. Would you do it?”

The Labour MP replied: “So what you’re setting out is a hypothetical scenario where you’re a long way from that process.”

“Well, you either respect their decisions or you don’t,” Bruce asserted.

“But they haven’t reached a decision. That’s the point. You’re asking me a hypothetical question,” the shadow minister said in dismissal.

“Sure, but it’s only one step away,” Bruce justified.

“Well, I think it’s a considerable distance away,” Phillipson said.

The exchange left the audience on Thursday night’s show in Coventry accusing the Labour shadow minister of offering “fake answers” and dodging questions.

Later in the show an impassioned audience member lashed out at Phillipson: “I’ve come to this programme really wanting to listen to what the Labour Party is going to say. I used to vote for the Labour Party and you’ve not answered any questions at all.”

His remarks sparked laughter and applause from the audience.

Persisting, he urged: “Convince me, tell me how,” calling for genuine responses rather than “fake answers.”

Phillipson, under pressure, responded, “Sorry I’m absolutely doing my level best to answer as directly as I can.”

The audience member added: “In two months’ time you could be the Education Secretary… It’s a political choice. Please make me vote for you.”

On matters of education, Phillipson assured that schools would be a priority for Labour, pledging more teachers, universal free breakfast clubs, mental health support, careers guidance, and skills training.

Watch above on BBC Question Time.