Sir Keir Starmer is under increasing pressure to recognise a Palestinian state, with MPs signing a mass cross-party letter demanding he take the step.
The letter is being organised by the Labour backbencher Sarah Champion, who also sits as the International Development Committee Chair.
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They write: “British recognition of Palestine would be particularly powerful given its role as the author of the Balfour Declaration and the former Mandatory Power in Palestine”.
“Since 1980 we have backed a two-state solution. Such a recognition would give that position substance as well as living up to a historic responsibility we have to the people under that Mandate.”
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Earlier this month, nearly 60 Labour MPs called on David Lammy and the Foreign Office to immediately recognise Palestine as a state in a private letter, but this new call shows how dissatisfied many still are with the government’s refusal to change its stance on the issue.
Late last night Number 10 released a statement on Gaza calling the situation “unspeakable and indefensible,” but a growing number of Labour backbenchers fear it’s not enough.
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In light of a tweet by the French President Emmanuel Macron also sent last night declaring France would recognise a Palestinian state in September at a UN conference, a number of MPs now say Number 10’s current position is untenable.
“They had said they wanted to be in lockstep with allies, but this means that position won’t hold,” said one Labour MP.
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Peter Kyle, the technology secretary, this morning defended the government’s resistance to calls for immediate UK recognition of a Palestinian state.
“We want Palestinian statehood. We desire it, and we want to make sure the circumstances can exist where that kind of long-term political solution can have the space to evolve and make sure that it can become a permanent circumstance that can bring peace to the entire region,” he told Sky News.
“But right now, today, we’ve got to focus on what will ease the suffering, and it is extreme, unwarranted suffering in Gaza that has to be the priority for us today.”
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An emergency call with Germany and France is scheduled for today to discuss what Sir Keir described as a “human catastrophe” which has “reached new depths”.
The Foreign Office have maintained they are committed to recognising a Palestinian state but have expressed a willingness to do so only when it will have the “most impact in support of a peace process”.
They say: “We continue to provide lifesaving aid to support Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and to work closely in support of the Palestinian Authority.”
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A Downing Street spokesperson also confirmed their position on Palestinian statehood remains unchanged.
