Protesters demonstrate in anticipation of the Commons vote (Image: Getty)
The Scottish National Party has been accused of cynically "playing politics" and stoking "domestic party divisions" while the lives of innocent civilians in the Middle East are on the line.
Tobias Ellwood spoke to Express.co.uk as MPs prepare to vote on whether or not to back a ceasefire in Gaza, after the SNP put forward a motion urging parliamentarians to "join with the international community" and call on Israel and Hamas to drop their weapons.
The motion has no chance of passing as the vast majority of Tory MPs are expected to reject it. In that context, the former Chair of the Defence Select Committee believes that the SNP forcing the vote is nothing more than a calculated attempt to expose internal fragilities within the main parties.
Mr Ellwood told this website that the SNP's ceasefire amendment is "turning [a] genuine call for action" into a "political argument to cause domestic party divisions" in Britain.
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He added: "Yes the SNP [are] just playing politics - this is not the unity and statecraft that the UK should be displaying".
The Commons vote is expected to take place after 7pm this evening.
READ MORE BBC forced into humiliating apology after claiming Israel 'attacking medics'
Tobias Ellwood accused the SNP of 'playing politics' over ceasefire vote (Image: Getty)
Yesterday SNP leader Humza Yousaf took to X to confirm that his party would be pursuing a Commons vote and took aim at the Leader of the Opposition.
He wrote: "Keir Starmer is reportedly threatening to sack any Labour frontbench MP who votes for a ceasefire tomorrow. What a complete lack of moral leadership. The SNP will force a vote on a ceasefire. This is a plea for every MP to do the right thing and vote with their conscience.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn told MPs: "For members across the House this is a question of values. It is a question of conscience."
SNP Leader in Westminster Stephen Flynn has called for a ceasefire (Image: Getty)
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This comes as Labour frontbenchers are being threatened with the sack if they defy the party leadership and vote for the SNP amendment.
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MPs have been ordered to abstain on tonight's vote and instead back Sir Keir Starmer's call for humanitarian pauses in the fighting in Gaza.
Shadow ministers Naz Shah, Helen Hayes and Afzal Khan have already signalled that they will not stick by the party line.
Ms Shah told the Commons earlier: "I will be supporting the amendment which seeks an immediate ceasefire."
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