Mike Gapes

Michael John Gapes was born on 4 September 1952, the son of Frank William Gapes, a postman, and Emily Florence Gapes, née Jackson.[https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-16726 "Gapes, Michael John"], Who's Who (online ed., Oxford University Press, 2021). Retrieved 6 January 2022.[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2000/mar/07/internet.guardianleaders "RIP for Basic Civil Liberties"], The Guardian, 7 March 2000. Retrieved 8 January 2022: "Michael Gapes, Labour MP for Ilford South, told the Commons yesterday how his father as a postman..." He was educated at Staples Road Infants' School in Loughton before attending Manford County Primary School and Buckhurst Hill County High School in Chigwell. He worked as a Voluntary Service Overseas teacher in Swaziland in a gap year before attending university in 1972.{{cite news|date=2001|title=Candidate: Mike Gapes|work=Vote 2001|publisher=BBC News Online|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/3/33601.stm|url-status=live|access-date=31 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040709121748/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/3/33601.stm|archive-date=9 July 2004}}

Gapes studied economics at Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975, which was upgraded by convention to a Master of Arts degree in 1979.{{cite book |title=Dod's Parliamentary Companion |date=2005 |publisher=University of Michigan |page=168 |isbn=978-0-905702-51-3 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KbiIAAAAMAAJ&q=mike+gapes+economics+1975 |access-date=16 March 2019 |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107175005/https://www.google.com/books/edition/Dod_s_Parliamentary_Companion/KbiIAAAAMAAJ?hl=en |url-status=live }}The Cambridge University List of Members (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991), p. 484. He served as Secretary of the Cambridge Students Union in 1973. He completed his education at Middlesex Polytechnic in Enfield where he earned a diploma in industrial relations in 1976, after which he served as chair of the National Organisation of Labour Students before serving for three years as the student organiser for the Labour Party.{{cite news|date=2001|title=Candidate: Mike Gapes|work=Vote 2001|publisher=BBC News Online|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/3/33601.stm|url-status=live|access-date=31 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040709121748/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/vote2001/candidates/candidates/3/33601.stm|archive-date=9 July 2004}}

Gapes was a founder, member, and convenor of the Clause Four Group in 1974, and the sixth Chair of the National Organisation of Labour Students from 1976 to 1977, taking over following the defeat of the entryist Trotskyist Militant tendency. In 1977, he was appointed as the first National Student Organiser of the Labour Party.

Gapes worked at Labour Party Headquarters for 15 years from 1977 until 1992, including serving from 1988 to 1992 as International Secretary of the party.{{cite web |url=http://labourlist.org/2014/11/30-years-ago-today-i-started-working-for-the-labour-party/ |title=30 years ago today, I started working for the Labour Party – LabourList |date=7 November 2014 |website=LabourList|access-date=17 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170617152733/http://labourlist.org/2014/11/30-years-ago-today-i-started-working-for-the-labour-party/ |archive-date=17 June 2017 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2014/11/08/fall-of-the-berlin-wall-would-poland-suffer-again/ |title=Fall of the Berlin Wall: would Poland suffer, again? |work=Progress |access-date=17 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304081537/http://www.progressonline.org.uk/2014/11/08/fall-of-the-berlin-wall-would-poland-suffer-again/ |archive-date=4 March 2016 |url-status=dead }} In 1981, he was a member of the anti-nuclear Labour Party Defence Study Group.{{cite book |author=Rhiannon Vickers |title=The Labour Party and the World – Volume 2: Labour's Foreign Policy since 1951 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PC_YCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT156 |date=30 September 2011 |publisher=Manchester University Press |isbn=978-1-84779-595-3 |page=156 |access-date=15 March 2019 |archive-date=28 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200428122729/https://books.google.com/books?id=PC_YCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT156 |url-status=live }} He told The Guardian that working with Neil Kinnock "to bring the Labour Party back from the abyss of 1983" was most influential in his political thinking.{{cite news |title=Mike Gapes |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/apr/04/mpsuncovered.parliament |access-date=13 March 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=4 April 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151013054418/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/apr/04/mpsuncovered.parliament |archive-date=13 October 2015 |url-status=live }}

In his role as international secretary, in 1990 he (along with other MEPs associated with the Fabian Society) urged Kinnock and the Labour Party to be more pro-European, including full economic and monetary union, a common industrial policy, replacing the Common Agricultural Policy with a "good food policy" promoting healthier diets with fewer additives, pesticides, and diversified crops, as well as a European Security Organisation based on NATO and Warsaw Pact co-operation.{{cite news |last1=Wintour |first1=Patrick |title=Euro link urged by Labour MEPs |url=https://www.nexis.com/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=40FN-1JB0-00VY-74G8&csi=242772&oc=00240&perma=true |work=The Guardian |via=Nexis |url-access=subscription |date=17 September 1990 |page=2 |access-date=12 March 2019 |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107175006/https://signin.lexisnexis.com/lnaccess/app/signin?back=https%3A%2F%2Fadvance.lexis.com%3A443%2Fnexis%2F%3Flni%3D40FN-1JB0-00VY-74G8%26csi%3D242772%26oc%3D00240%26perma%3Dtrue&aci=ndc |url-status=live }}

Gapes unsuccessfully contested Ilford North at the 1983 general election. He unsuccessfully stood for election to Wandsworth Borough Council in the 1986 election for West Hill ward in Putney, losing by only 50 votes.{{cite book |title=London Borough Council elections: 8 May 1986 |date=1986 |publisher=London Residuary Body - Research and Intelligence Unit |location=London |isbn=978-1-85261-003-6 |page=72 |url=http://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1986-5-8.pdf |access-date=30 March 2019 |archive-date=29 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200829012214/https://londondatastore-upload.s3.amazonaws.com/docs/LBCE_1986-5-8.pdf |url-status=live }}

File:Richard Ottaway MP, Bob Ainsworth MP, Mike Gapes MP (left to right) (8141325619).jpg, Bob Ainsworth and Mike Gapes (left to right) at a Foreign Affairs Select Committee briefing]]

He was elected to the House of Commons in the 1992 general election for Ilford South when he defeated the sitting Conservative MP Neil Thorne by just 402 votes. He made his maiden speech on 8 May 1992.{{cite web|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-05-08/Debate-4.html|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 8 May 1992|first=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons|last=Westminster|website=www.publications.parliament.uk|access-date=17 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121115211/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm199293/cmhansrd/1992-05-08/Debate-4.html|archive-date=21 November 2017|url-status=live}}

In Parliament he joined the Foreign Affairs Select Committee in 1992 and, after the 1997 general election, he was appointed as the Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Minister of State at the Northern Ireland Office Paul Murphy; he also worked for the other Minister of State Adam Ingram until 1999 when he joined the Defence Select Committee. Following the 2001 general election, he was again appointed a PPS to the Minister of State at the Home Office Jeff Rooker for a year. He rejoined the Defence Select Committee in 2003. Following the 2005 general election he served as the chairman of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee until 2010.

Gapes was an officer of many All-party Parliamentary Groups (APPG), including Chair of the All-Party Crossrail Group,{{Cite web|title=Crossrail|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/180131/crossrail.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330195625/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/180131/crossrail.htm|archive-date=30 March 2019|access-date=30 March 2019|website=publications.parliament.uk}} Chair of the All-Party Global Security and non Proliferation Group{{Cite web|title=Global Security and Non-Proliferation|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/180606/global-security-and-non-proliferation.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330195625/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/180606/global-security-and-non-proliferation.htm|archive-date=30 March 2019|access-date=30 March 2019|website=publications.parliament.uk}} and Chair of the All-Party United Nations Group.{{Cite web|title=United Nations|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/190102/united-nations.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330195625/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmallparty/190102/united-nations.htm|archive-date=30 March 2019|access-date=30 March 2019|website=publications.parliament.uk}} He was part of the Northern Ireland team which negotiated the Good Friday Agreement in Belfast in 1998.

During the 2001 and 2005 general election campaigns, he was the target of Muslim groups, including (according to the Ilford Recorder) the Association of Ilford Muslims,{{cite web|last=Westminster|first=Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons|title=House of Commons Hansard Debates for 4 Jul 2001 (pt 2)|url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo010704/halltext/10704h02.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222053024/https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200102/cmhansrd/vo010704/halltext/10704h02.htm|archive-date=22 December 2017|access-date=17 June 2017|website=www.publications.parliament.uk}} and Islamic Society of Britain (Ilford Branch), as well as (according to The Jewish Chronicle) the Muslim Public Affairs Committee UK,{{cite news|last1=Bright|first1=Martin|date=6 May 2010|title=Muslim group's 'vicious abuse' of candidates|work=The Jewish Chronicle|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/muslim-group-s-vicious-abuse-of-candidates-1.15387|url-status=live|access-date=24 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190224173621/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/muslim-group-s-vicious-abuse-of-candidates-1.15387|archive-date=24 February 2019}} who he says sought to unseat him because of his pro-Israel views. Gapes is a member of Labour Friends of Israel (LFI).{{cite web|title=LFI Supporters in Parliament|url=http://www.lfi.org.uk/in-parliament/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190116094045/http://www.lfi.org.uk/in-parliament/|archive-date=16 January 2019|access-date=23 February 2019|publisher=Labour Friends of Israel}}

In 2007, the Foreign Affairs Select Committee reported that it was "unlikely" any abuse was continuing at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp since 2004, calling the facilities "broadly comparable" to HM Prison Belmarsh. Gapes said: "I thought that we would see detainees in orange overalls kept in cages, but they are now in modern blocks. The images from 2002 were of Camp X-Ray and that is now shut",{{cite news |last1=Swinford |first1=Steven |title=Guantanamo no worse than Belmarsh, say MPs |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/guantanamo-no-worse-than-belmarsh-say-mps-26fkz968f55 |access-date=12 March 2019 |work=The Sunday Times |url-access=subscription |date=21 January 2007 |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107175104/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/guantanamo-no-worse-than-belmarsh-say-mps-26fkz968f55 |url-status=live }} adding that an immediate shutdown of Guantanamo Bay would lead to a release of individuals back into society who were "dangerous".{{cite news |last1=Jones |first1=George |title=Cuba camp on par with Belmarsh, say MPs |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1540191/Cuba-camp-on-par-with-Belmarsh-say-MPs.html |access-date=12 March 2019 |work=The Telegraph |date=22 January 2007 |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107175008/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1540191/Cuba-camp-on-par-with-Belmarsh-say-MPs.html |url-status=live }} Andrew Tyrie, chair of the all-party group on extraordinary rendition said the report was a "deep disappointment" and did not acknowledge the moral responsibility to British residents in Guantanamo; Clive Stafford Smith, who represented prisoners at the base, said the report was "full of factual errors" and based on a "show tour" and Kate Allen, director of Amnesty International, called the report "a missed opportunity".

Also in 2007, Gapes was criticised for claiming £22,110 for a second home despite his constituency being only 39 minutes away from Westminster. Gapes responded to the criticism saying "It's perfectly allowed".{{cite web|last=Beattie|first=Jason|date=30 October 2007|title=The London MPs who claim for second homes|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/the-london-mps-who-claim-for-second-homes-6697141.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201127082420/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/the-london-mps-who-claim-for-second-homes-6697141.html|archive-date=27 November 2020|access-date=15 August 2020|website=Evening Standard}} In 2008, as chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Gapes met with the Dalai Lama and asked his opinion on human rights in Tibet.{{cite news |last1=Gimson |first1=Andrew |title=Dalai's lesson in love for human beings... and MPs Andrew Gimson on a day of spirituality at Westminster |url=https://www.nexis.com/docview/getDocForCuiReq?lni=4SK3-RC70-TX33-70Y7&csi=280434&oc=00240&perma=true |work=The Daily Telegraph |via=Nexis |url-access=subscription |date=23 May 2008 |page=14 |access-date=7 September 2019 |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107175107/https://signin.lexisnexis.com/lnaccess/app/signin?back=https%3A%2F%2Fadvance.lexis.com%3A443%2Fnexis%2F%3Flni%3D4SK3-RC70-TX33-70Y7%26csi%3D280434%26oc%3D00240%26perma%3Dtrue&aci=ndc |url-status=live }} As head of the committee, he was heavily critical of the nuclear program of Iran, arguing that there was a "strong possibility" Iran would develop a nuclear bomb by 2015.{{cite news |last1=Croft |first1=Adrian |title=Panel warns of nuclear Iran by 2015 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/444316658/ |work=The Boston Globe |agency=Reuters |via=Newspapers.com |url-access=subscription |date=2 March 2008 |page=8 |access-date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107175009/https://www.newspapers.com/image/444316658/ |url-status=live }} Gapes was Chair of the committee until 2010{{cite web |title=Foreign Affairs Committee - Hansard - UK Parliament |url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2019-03-19/debates/EFAF34C5-D580-4AD2-A9F0-A5AE7579313F/ForeignAffairsCommittee |access-date=23 November 2021}} and continued to be a member of the committee until 2019.{{cite news |title=Ex-Labour MPs 'booted' off Foreign Affairs Committee |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-parliaments-47631199 |work=BBC News |date=19 March 2019}}

In the summer of 2018, The Independent noted that there was speculation that Gapes might resign over allegations of antisemitism in the party,{{cite news|last1=Merrick|first1=Independent|date=25 August 2018|title=Labour MP 'agonising every day' over whether to quit party amid latest Corbyn antisemitism row|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-antisemitism-jeremy-corbyn-mike-gapes-quit-party-a8507886.html|url-status=live|access-date=25 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825184041/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/labour-antisemitism-jeremy-corbyn-mike-gapes-quit-party-a8507886.html|archive-date=25 August 2018}} which he eventually did in 2019.{{cite news|last=Chakelian|first=Anoosh|date=18 February 2019|title=Who are the seven MPs leaving the Labour Party?|work=New Statesman|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/02/who-are-seven-mps-leaving-labour-party|url-status=live|access-date=13 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020215011/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/02/who-are-seven-mps-leaving-labour-party|archive-date=20 October 2019}} On 18 February 2019, Gapes and six other MPs—Chuka Umunna, Chris Leslie, Angela Smith, Luciana Berger, Gavin Shuker, and Ann Coffey—quit Labour in protest at Jeremy Corbyn's leadership to form Change UK. It cited disagreements over the handling of Brexit and mishandling of anti-Semitism within the Labour Party as key reasons for leaving.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/18/in-their-own-words-why-seven-mps-are-quitting-labour-independent-group|title=In their own words: why seven MPs are quitting Labour|last=Marsh|first=Sarah|date=18 February 2019|work=The Guardian|access-date=19 February 2019|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220003329/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/feb/18/in-their-own-words-why-seven-mps-are-quitting-labour-independent-group|archive-date=20 February 2019|url-status=live}} For Gapes, foreign policy differences were the major factor, accusing Corbyn in his resignation letter of taking the "wrong side on so many international issues from Russia, to Syria, to Venezuela."{{cite news |url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/03/i-ve-been-through-divorce-i-know-what-divorces-are-mike-gapes-pain-leaving |title="I've been through a divorce. I know what divorces are like": Mike Gapes on the pain of leaving Labour |last=Maguire |first=Patrick |newspaper=New Statesman |date=1 March 2019 |access-date=26 April 2019 |archive-date=12 March 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190312161041/https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/uk/2019/03/i-ve-been-through-divorce-i-know-what-divorces-are-mike-gapes-pain-leaving |url-status=live }}

Gapes and his new party came under fire after he described those who criticised them as Islamophobic based on those selected to fight for the party in the European Elections 2019, including the Muslim Council of Britain and anti-racism charity Tell MAMA, as "far left trot trolls" and "cultists."{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/change-uk-muslim-council-tommy-robinson-islam-european-elections-a8885611.html|title=Change UK says criticism by Muslim community groups is 'smear campaign'|last=Stone|first=Jon|date=25 April 2019|work=The Independent|access-date=27 April 2019|archive-date=25 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190425111620/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/change-uk-muslim-council-tommy-robinson-islam-european-elections-a8885611.html|url-status=live}} In September 2019, Gapes was ridiculed and accused of 'mansplaining' after he incorrectly corrected the grammar of a tweet by Diane Abbott while making a grammar mistake of his own.{{cite news |last1=Reaidi |first1=Joseph |title=Mike Gapes accused of 'mansplaining' a Diane Abbott tweet |url=https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/17924218.mike-gapes-accused-mansplaining-diane-abbott-tweet/ |access-date=29 September 2019 |work=East London and West Essex Guardian |date=24 September 2019 |archive-date=29 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929200357/https://www.guardian-series.co.uk/news/17924218.mike-gapes-accused-mansplaining-diane-abbott-tweet/ |url-status=live }}

During the 2019 general election campaign, Gapes contacted the Metropolitan Police and electoral authorities after he was targeted by a Twitter troll known as 'Mr Richard Miller', who posed as Gapes' campaign manager and said he was fired for losing Mike Gapes' shoes.{{cite news |last1=Golby |first1=Joel |title=This week's biggest Twitter controversy? Jo Swinson's squirrel problem |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/21/jo-swinson-squirrel-twitter |access-date=8 December 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=21 November 2019 |archive-date=8 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208172653/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/nov/21/jo-swinson-squirrel-twitter |url-status=live }} Gapes was also threatened with a cease and desist letter from lawyers representing Labour after his campaign leaflets featured the party's red and yellow colours and a slogan reading: "Real Labour Values, Independent Mind".{{cite news |last1=Waugh |first1=Paul |title=Labour Threatens Former MP Mike Gapes With Prosecution Over 'Real Labour' Leaflets |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-legal-threat-ilford-south-gapes-tarry-leaflet-real-labour_uk_5de001f4e4b00149f72ba2a7 |access-date=12 July 2020 |work=HuffPost UK |date=28 November 2019 |archive-date=7 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107175009/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/labour-legal-threat-ilford-south-gapes-tarry-leaflet-real-labour_uk_5de001f4e4b00149f72ba2a7 |url-status=live }} On election night, he lost his seat to Labour's Sam Tarry, ending his 27-year career in the UK Parliament.{{cite news |last1=Hennessey |first1=Ted |last2=Somerville |first2=Ewan |title=Ilford South election result: Labour's Sam Tarry wins in east London constituency |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ilford-south-general-election-results-who-is-the-new-mp-for-my-area-a4306766.html |access-date=13 December 2019 |work=Evening Standard |date=13 December 2019 |archive-date=13 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191213095147/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/ilford-south-general-election-results-who-is-the-new-mp-for-my-area-a4306766.html |url-status=live }}

Gapes rejoined the Labour Party on 7 March 2023. Keir Starmer welcomed his return, stating that it was "a tribute to the hard work already done to change our party."{{cite web | url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-mike-gapes-labour-ilford-south-anti-semitism-b1065316.html | title=Keir Starmer welcomes former Ilford South MP Mike Gapes back to Labour | date=7 March 2023 }} His re-entry came after Luciana Berger rejoined the party in February 2023.

Gapes has defended the legacies of the former British prime minister Tony Blair and the former American president Bill Clinton. He is a supporter of humanitarian intervention and voted for the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and opposed the Chilcot Inquiry into the causes of the Iraq War.{{cite news |title=Pro-Iraq War Labour MP attacks Tony Blair's 'hysterical' critics |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/pro-iraq-war-labour-mp-mike-gapes-says-the-chilcot-inquiry-shouldn-t-be-published-a6713251.html |access-date=12 March 2019 |work=The Independent |date=29 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408155817/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/pro-iraq-war-labour-mp-mike-gapes-says-the-chilcot-inquiry-shouldn-t-be-published-a6713251.html |archive-date=8 April 2016 |url-status=live }} In August 2014 he called for a recall of Parliament to authorise military support for Iraq{{cite web|url=http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/08/parliament-should-be-recalled-authorise-military-support-iraq|title=Parliament should be recalled to authorise military support for Iraq|website=www.newstatesman.com|date=9 August 2014|access-date=17 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151209071542/http://www.newstatesman.com/politics/2014/08/parliament-should-be-recalled-authorise-military-support-iraq|archive-date=9 December 2015|url-status=live}} and intended to vote for Britain becoming involved with the bombing of IS in Syria on 2 December 2015, but was in hospital after suffering chest pains at the time of the vote.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34868101 |title=Labour MP Gapes says he will rebel on Syria vote |publisher=BBC |date=19 November 2015 |access-date=7 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122060003/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-34868101 |archive-date=22 November 2015 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/crime-court/ilford_south_mp_mike_gapes_in_hospital_following_emergency_surgery_1_4330563 |title=Ilford South MP Mike Gapes in hospital following emergency surgery |author=Ralph Blackburn |newspaper=Ilford Recorder |date=30 November 2015 |access-date=7 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151204225607/http://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/crime-court/ilford_south_mp_mike_gapes_in_hospital_following_emergency_surgery_1_4330563 |archive-date=4 December 2015 |url-status=live }} In 2018 Gapes supported a call by the Foreign Affairs Select Committee for an independent inquiry into "the consequences of non-intervention" by Britain in the Syrian civil war.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/syria-conflict-uk-military-action-chemical-weapons-vote-russia-thornberry-burt-a8531891.html |title=Syria conflict: MPs not guaranteed vote on further military action by UK, minister says |last=Stubley |first=Peter |website=The Independent |date=10 September 2018 |access-date=24 April 2019 |archive-date=24 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424120017/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/syria-conflict-uk-military-action-chemical-weapons-vote-russia-thornberry-burt-a8531891.html |url-status=live }} Gapes later criticised Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn for apologising for the Iraq War,{{cite news |last1=Champion |first1=Matthew |title=Jeremy Corbyn Apologises On Behalf Of Labour For The Iraq War |url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/matthewchampion/corbyn-those-responsible-for-iraq-war-must-face-consequences |access-date=12 March 2019 |work=BuzzFeed |date=6 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721133134/https://www.buzzfeed.com/matthewchampion/corbyn-those-responsible-for-iraq-war-must-face-consequences |archive-date=21 July 2017 |url-status=live }} and argued that the Middle East is better off following the British and American interventions.{{cite news |last1=Blackburn |first1=Ralph |title=Mike Gapes on Chilcot: I will not apologise for voting for Iraq War |url=https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/politics/mike-gapes-on-chilcot-i-will-not-apologise-for-voting-for-iraq-war-1-4607189 |website=Ilford Recorder |access-date=12 March 2019 |date=7 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219203328/https://www.ilfordrecorder.co.uk/news/politics/mike-gapes-on-chilcot-i-will-not-apologise-for-voting-for-iraq-war-1-4607189 |archive-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=live }} However, the Foreign Affairs Committee under his chairmanship argued for a re-evaluation of the "special relationship" between Britain and America and criticised Blair's closeness to the American president George W. Bush after the September 11 attacks as damaging to British interests.{{cite news |last1=Tran |first1=Mark |title=UK special relationship with US is over, say MPs |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/mar/28/us-uk-special-relationship-over |access-date=12 March 2019 |work=The Guardian |date=28 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913123706/https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2010/mar/28/us-uk-special-relationship-over |archive-date=13 September 2018 |url-status=live |quote=The perception that the British government was a subservient 'poodle' to the US administration leading up to the period of the invasion of Iraq and its aftermath is widespread both among the British public and overseas ... [such a perception is] deeply damaging to the reputation and interests of the UK}}

Gapes is staunchly pro-European, once declaring that he would prefer closer ties with the European Union, rather than Britain becoming an amusement park for American and Japanese tourists. He introduced 36 amendments to the EU Referendum Bill of 2013.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24859102|title=Tories defend EU referendum plan amid Labour blocking efforts|date=8 November 2013|access-date=17 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206095326/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24859102|archive-date=6 December 2017|url-status=live|work=BBC News}} The bill's proposer, James Wharton, alleged that the amendments were an attempt to filibuster.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/08/mps-debate-the-eu-referendum-bill-politics-live-blog|title=MPs debate the EU referendum bill: Politics live blog|first=Andrew|last=Sparrow|date=8 November 2013|access-date=17 June 2017|newspaper=The Guardian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429230743/https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2013/nov/08/mps-debate-the-eu-referendum-bill-politics-live-blog|archive-date=29 April 2017|url-status=live}} In December 2017, Gapes delivered a speech to the House of Commons in which he warned that Brexit would put the production of Baileys Irish Cream, the milky whiskey liqueur, in jeopardy.{{cite news |url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/baileys-in-jeopardy-over-brexit-mp-warns-36384149.html |title=Baileys in jeopardy over Brexit, MP warns |last=Bell |first=Jonathan |newspaper=Belfast Telegraph |date=6 December 2017 |access-date=18 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190219015900/https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/baileys-in-jeopardy-over-brexit-mp-warns-36384149.html |archive-date=19 February 2019 |url-status=live }} The speech, in which he explained how Baileys is produced, was described by Patrick Maguire in the New Statesman as "infinitely memeable" and as giving Gapes "a bizarre online infamy".

During the Labour Party leadership elections in 2010, 2015 and 2016, he supported David Miliband, Liz Kendall and Owen Smith, respectively.

Gapes is a long-time critic of former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, and has called him "the racist antisemite".{{cite news |last1=Kennedy |first1=Dominic |last2=Fisher |first2=Lucy |last3=Elliott |first3=Francis |title=Far-right comes out for Jeremy Corbyn |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/far-right-comes-out-for-jeremy-corbyn-over-zionist-slur-as-ex-bnp-and-ku-klux-klan-chiefs-show-support-3p52gpq39 |access-date=12 March 2019 |work=The Times |url-access=subscription |date=25 August 2018 |archive-date=20 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220155353/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/far-right-comes-out-for-jeremy-corbyn-over-zionist-slur-as-ex-bnp-and-ku-klux-klan-chiefs-show-support-3p52gpq39 |url-status=live }} He also criticised Corbyn's supporters, including the prominent group Momentum.{{cite web|url=https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/mp-accuses-redbridge-momentum-of-absolutely-disgusting-antisemitism-over-tweet-1.467145|website=www.thejc.com|access-date=17 February 2019|title=MP accuses Redbridge Momentum of 'absolutely disgusting antisemitism' over tweet|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218081749/https://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/mp-accuses-redbridge-momentum-of-absolutely-disgusting-antisemitism-over-tweet-1.467145|archive-date=18 February 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/13/mike-gapes-labour-twitter-corbyn_n_8284206.html|title='I AM LABOUR I AM LABOUR! Get it?' Mike Gapes Is Mad As Hell With The Corbynistas|date=13 October 2015|website=HuffPost UK|access-date=17 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218141801/https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/10/13/mike-gapes-labour-twitter-corbyn_n_8284206.html|archive-date=18 February 2019|url-status=live}} Gapes opposed Corbyn's political views on issues such as foreign policy{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/14/jeremy-corbyn-under-fire-over-response-to-pms-russia-statement|title=Corbyn under fire from own MPs over response to PM's Russia statement|last=Stewart|first=Heather|date=14 March 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=17 February 2019|issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190218082112/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2018/mar/14/jeremy-corbyn-under-fire-over-response-to-pms-russia-statement|archive-date=18 February 2019|url-status=live}} and Brexit. In December 2015, he criticised the Labour Party on Twitter for a U-turn on whether to run a budget surplus in 'normal' economic conditions. This led to him being trolled by supporters of Corbyn online – many of whom told him to leave the party. He also called for the resignation of Corbyn's director of communications, Seumas Milne, following comments Milne made doubting Russian state involvement in the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal.{{cite news |last1=Proctor |first1=Kate |title=Labour rebellion mounts over Jeremy Corbyn's handling of nerve agent spy plot |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/labour-rebellion-mounts-over-jeremy-corbyns-handling-of-nerve-agent-spy-plot-a3790616.html |access-date=13 March 2019 |work=Evening Standard |date=15 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180315192021/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/labour-rebellion-mounts-over-jeremy-corbyns-handling-of-nerve-agent-spy-plot-a3790616.html |archive-date=15 March 2018 |url-status=live }}

Gapes married Frances Smith in 1992 and they divorced in 2004. Their daughter Rebecca Gapes died of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in 2012, at the age of 19.{{cite news |url=http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/mps-daughter-rebecca-gapes-19-a61539/ |title=MP's daughter Rebecca Gapes, 19, died suddenly in Canterbury student house |work=Kent Online |date=16 August 2012 |access-date=31 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921010741/http://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/mps-daughter-rebecca-gapes-19-a61539/ |archive-date=21 September 2016 |url-status=live }} He has two adult stepdaughters. He is a keen supporter of West Ham United.{{cite web|url=https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2017/february/28-february/big-interview-mike-gapes-mp|title=The Big Interview - Mike Gapes MP {{!}} West Ham United|date=28 February 2017|website=www.whufc.com|access-date=13 November 2019|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712202530/https://www.whufc.com/news/articles/2017/february/28-february/big-interview-mike-gapes-mp|url-status=live}}

• Clarke, Charles, David Griffiths, and Mike Gapes (1982). Labour and Mass Politics: Rethinking our Strategy. Labour Co-ordinating Committee.
• Gapes, Mike (1988). "Labour's Defence and Security Policy." Rethinking the Nuclear Weapons Dilemma in Europe. Palgrave Macmillan, London. pp.341–355. {{ISBN|978-1-349-09181-2}}
• Gapes, Mike (1988). "The Evolution of Labour's Defence and Security Policy" in Burt, Gordon. Alternative Defence Policy, Routledge, pp. 82–105.
• {{cite book|author= Gapes, Mike|title=After the Cold War|url=https://digital.library.lse.ac.uk/Documents/Detail/after-the-cold-war-building-on-the-alliances-1990/118936|date=1990|publisher= Fabian Society|ISBN=978-0-7163-0540-8}}

• McNab, Peter (ed.) (2021). Change – The Independent Group, Grosvenor House Publishin.ISBN 978-1-83975-465-4

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.mikegapes.org/ Mike Gapes MP] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106233744/http://www.mikegapes.org/ |date=6 November 2014 }} Official website
• [https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/mike_gapes/ilford_south TheyWorkForYou.com – Mike Gapes MP]
• {{MPLinksUK | parliament = mike-gapes/184 | publicwhip = Mike_Gapes}}
• {{C-SPAN|28704}}

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{{The Independent Group}}

{{Labour Party shadow cabinet election, 2010}}

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