Labour MP Jo Stevens' office vandalised by pro-Palestine protesters

An MP who abstained on the Gaza vote has had her office daubed in red paint by protesters who accused her of having "blood" on her hands.

Shadow Welsh secretary Jo Stevens said the damage to her office in Cardiff was "intimidating" and "threatening".

Sir Keir Starmer's stance on the Israel-Gaza war caused a major rebellion with 56 of his MPs voting for an immediate ceasefire.

Beth Winter was the only Welsh Labour MP to back the ceasefire.

Protestors sprayed red paint and posted banners on Ms Stevens' Albany Road office on Thursday night, with some accusing the Cardiff Central MP of supporting the deaths of babies in Gaza.

Another poster said the Labour MP had "blood on your hands".

Ms Stevens told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast she was shocked by the damaged which occurred during an event she said had been described as a "vigil".

"I absolutely support the right to protest, but what was done last night has gone way beyond that," she said.

"If you have someone write murder across your door, it is intimidating. Ultimately it is a criminal offence."

The issue has divided the Labour party, with ten of Ms Stevens' fellow frontbenchers stepping down from their jobs over the vote, including eight shadow ministers.

Ms Stevens said she "found it particularly surprising" that a former Senedd member had been present at the protest.

"I would have thought at the very least, that this individual would have had some understanding of the effect that this will have on my team," she added.

"This is a workplace and my staff team and I, as well as my constituents who come to my office every day for help, should be able to do so in safety."

Former Plaid Cymru MS Bethan Sayed said she had taken part in the protest "peacefully", and accused Ms Stevens of failing to "hear and respect" the views of her constituents who support a ceasefire.

"I took part peacefully," Ms Sayed said in a statement. "I'd urge Jo Stevens MP to consider her actions as opposed to focusing on me."

First Minister Mark Drakeford has echoed the stance taken by UK Labour leader, Sir Keir Starmer, who called for a "humanitarian pause" to allow aid to reach civilians in Gaza.

Israel launched a major military campaign in the Gaza Strip to destroy Hamas, which it considers a terrorist group, in retaliation for the 7 October cross-border attack by hundreds of gunmen.

At least 1,200 people were killed in Hamas's assault on Israel and about 240 others were taken hostage.

Since Israel started its counterattack, Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has said 11,500 people have been killed in the territory and the United Nations has warned of a "humanitarian disaster".