What did Paul Bristow do?

In the world of politics, it’s not uncommon for politicians to grapple with complex decisions and challenging issues.

Such was the case for Paul Bristow, the Member of Parliament for Peterborough, who made headlines in October 2023 when he was removed from his government role as a Parliamentary Private Secretary at the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.

The reason for Bristow’s dismissal was his failure to publicly support government policy on a matter of great significance. He publicly urged Rishi Sunak British PM, to advocate for a “permanent ceasefire.”

In a two-page letter to the prime minister, Bristow argued “A permanent ceasefire would save lives and allow for a continued column of humanitarian aid  reach the people who need it the most”.

In further comments on his Facebook page, Bristow said Palestinians “should not suffer collective punishment for the crimes of Hamas.”

Bristow was the first frontbencher in either the government or the opposition to be sacked for opposing the respective leadership’s views on the conflict.

Speaking to the BBC, Bristow expressed his understanding about Rishi Sunak’s decision to remove him from his government position. He acknowledged the regrets he had about leaving a job he enjoyed, but he made it clear that he believed he could be more effective in addressing the matter from the backbenches rather than as part of the government payroll.