LABOUR MP Rushanara Ali stepped down from her post as an education spokeswoman after refusing to support British military action in Iraq against Isis targets.
The MP for the multi-ethnic Bethnal Green and Bow constituency in east London abstained from the Commons vote last evening (26).
British MPs voted overwhelmingly on Friday to join US-led air strikes on Islamic State (IS) targets in Iraq, but 43 MPs including two prominent Labour members dissented with many saying the plan was poorly thought-out.
In a letter to party leader Ed Miliband, Ali said: “Too many mistakes have been made over the last decade and far too many people in conflict zones have had to pay a high price for misconceived actions by the UK and other countries.
“I am not confident that this military action will be effective in the short-term in just targeting the terrorists and not harming innocent civilians.
“Nor can I pretend to have any confidence that there is a credible long-term strategy to build up the capacity of the Iraqi army or that the potential impact on radicalisation in the UK has been properly thought through.”
In all, 23 Labour MPs opposed the action, among them Dennis Skinner, Diane Abbott, Kate Hoey, John McDonnell and Barry Sheerman, while only six Conservatives opposed taking action.
On Friday, Labour MP Iain McKenzie was also sacked as parliamentary aide to shadow defence minister Vernon Coaker after he voted against military action.
Ali's predecessor, the previous Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, Oona King, lost her seat after voting for the 2003 Iraq War. Last year Tower Hamlets MP Jim Fitzpatrick resigned over plans to launch airstrikes on Syria.
The vote in the Commons, which was approved by 524 votes in favour, came after a sometimes heated debate in which MPs repeatedly questioned Prime Minister David Cameron and the government over the duration and precise aims of the air campaign.
