Labour MPs push for UK recognition of Palestine at UN conference
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As global momentum for Palestinian recognition builds, France signals openness while the UK weighs its next move.
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Labour Party leader Keir Starmer shakes hands with his supporters at the Tate Modern in London, Friday, July 5, 2024 (AP)
Senior Labour politicians are intensifying calls for the UK government to formally recognize a Palestinian state during a high-level UN "two-state solution" conference set for mid-June, The Guardian reported.
They argued that such a move would demonstrate moral leadership and serve as a meaningful step toward peace amid escalating regional instability.
Veteran Labour peer Alf Dubs said recognition would offer Palestinians “the self-respect they’d have if they had a proper state,” bolstering their position in future negotiations. “Even if it doesn’t lead to anything immediately, it would still give Palestinians a better standing,” he said. “Symbols matter".
Former cabinet minister Peter Hain echoed the sentiment, warning that waiting for a negotiated outcome before acting “simply allows ‘Israel’s’ illegal occupation to become permanent.” Recognition, he argued, should be “a catalyst, not a consequence” of negotiations.
Labour’s message aligns with broader international sentiment. At a preparatory meeting in New York, Saudi Arabia stressed that recognition must be seen as a prerequisite for peace, not a post-war gesture. The upcoming UN conference, scheduled for 17–20 June, is expected to bring fresh momentum for countries like the UK and France to move beyond rhetoric and take tangible diplomatic steps.
France signals openness, UK remains cautious
French President Emmanuel Macron has indicated that France may formally extend Palestinian statehood recognition, potentially joining the 147 countries that have already done so. However, Macron has signalled a preference to do so within a broader, coordinated UN framework.
On his part, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy confirmed that he has discussed the issue with French officials but cautioned against what he called “a gesture with no practical impact.” The UK maintains its position that it will recognize a Palestinian state “at the point of maximum impact.” According to The Guardian, the UK government believes France may ultimately choose not to proceed in June.
Within the Labour Party, internal pressure is also growing. Sixty-nine MPs and six peers recently signed a joint letter urging the prime minister to act during what they described as a “unique window of opportunity” to recognize Palestine. The letter, organized by Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East chairs Sarah Owen and Andrew Pakes, reportedly includes support from several current ministers, underscoring growing Labour support for Palestine.
UN conference seen as turning point
France and Saudi Arabia, co-chairs of the June conference, have stated that the meeting is not intended to relaunch an open-ended peace process, but rather to implement, once and for all, the "two-state solution". A concept note from the organizers stresses the urgency amid continued Israeli settlement expansion, incitement assaults, and efforts to forcibly displace Palestinians.
The conference will include eight working groups focused on mapping practical steps toward implementation. Participating states will be asked to outline specific actions they are willing to undertake to help realize peace and meet their international responsibilities.
Time has come for Britain to 'show principled leadership'
Labour MP Alex Ballinger, a member of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said the time has come for Britain to “show principled leadership,” adding, “We can no longer speak in platitudes about two states while blocking the very steps that could help make one of them real.”
Afzal Khan, a former shadow minister and long-time advocate for Palestinian rights, echoed the call. “Recognition would now be a positive first step toward securing a peaceful two-state solution, ending unlawful settlement expansions and blockades, and unlocking the diplomatic and humanitarian pathways to lasting justice,” he said. He warned that the UK risks falling behind while the rest of the world takes action.
As the UN conference approaches, pressure is mounting on the UK to match its rhetoric with action and formally back UK recognition of a Palestinian state as a necessary and overdue move toward peace.
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