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The National
39 minutes ago
- The National
Labour minister squirms amid grilling on recognising Palestinian state
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds was asked on Sky News whether the Government would recognise Palestinian statehood in this parliament. But while he said 'yes' he appeared to add the condition of 'if it delivers the breakthrough that we need'. The state of Palestine is recognised by 147 of the 193 members of the United Nations, but the UK is not one of them. Last week it was confirmed by Emmanuel Macron that France will officially recognise Palestine as a state in September. Reynolds told Sky News that ministers "want to" and "will" recognise Palestine. READ MORE: LIVE: Updates as Donald Trump meets Keir Starmer in Ayrshire But he then said: "The question is - how can we use that in a way that gives a genuine breakthrough to a real peaceful process? 'I know many countries around the world have already done this. To be frank, to be candid, it hasn't stopped the appalling scenes that we're talking about this morning. Asked whether Palestine would be recognised in this parliament, Reynolds appeared to skirt around the question saying: "In this parliament, yes. I mean, if it delivers the breakthrough that we need. The UK government will recognise a Palestinian state "in this parliament", Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has told Sky News. Asked about timeline, he told @WilfredFrost: "In this parliament, yes. I mean, if it delivers the breakthrough that we need. "But don't forget, we… — Ben Bloch (@realBenBloch) July 28, 2025 'But don't forget, we can only do this once. If we do it in a way which is tokenistic, doesn't produce the end to this conflict, where do we go to next?" Reynolds has also dismissed the idea that there is a split at the top of Government over when to recognise a Palestinian state, and denied on Good Morning Britain that it would be another U-turn from Keir Starmer if he proceeded with recognition. Speaking to GMB, he said: 'There's no split. The whole of the Labour Party, every Labour MP, was elected on a manifesto of recognition of a Palestinian state, and we all want it to happen. 'It is a case of when, not if.' READ MORE: Only SNP majority can deliver indyref2, John Swinney says Health Secretary Wes Streeting is among those to have signalled a desire for hastened action calling for recognition 'while there's still a state of [[Palestine]] left to recognise'. 'Are you saying that is not another u-turn from Keir Starmer?' @edballs questions Jonathan Reynolds MP on whether the UK will recognise a Palestinian state alongside France amid a Labour split in opinion. — Good Morning Britain (@GMB) July 28, 2025 Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also posted a video on social media last week calling for recognition to happen 'immediately'. Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the Government wants to recognise a Palestinian state 'in contribution to a peace process'. Some 221 MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, LibDems, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and independents have signed a letter pressuring the Government to recognise Palestine at a UN conference this week. The majority of those who have signed, 131, are Labour MPs. The SNP has also threatened to 'force a vote' and bring forward legislation for the UK to recognise Palestinian statehood if Starmer resists calls to do so. The UK is working with Jordan to airdrop aid into Gaza and evacuate children needing medical assistance, with military planners deployed for further support. However, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency has warned such efforts are 'a distraction' that will fail to properly address deepening starvation in the strip and could in some cases harm civilians. Images and warnings of starvation emerging from Gaza in recent days have piled pressure on the Israeli government over its conduct. The Prime Minister held crisis talks with French and German counterparts on Saturday, during which Number 10 said they agreed 'it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently-needed ceasefire into lasting peace'. A Downing Street readout of the call made no mention of Palestinian statehood.
Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Rhyl Journal
Minister dismisses idea of split in Cabinet over Palestinian statehood
Sir Keir Starmer has been facing calls to immediately make the change amid the continued desperate situation in Gaza. Israel announced at the weekend that it would suspend fighting in three areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day and open secure routes for aid delivery Health Secretary Wes Streeting is among those to have signalled a desire for hastened action calling for recognition 'while there's still a state of Palestine left to recognise'. While Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the Government wants to recognise a Palestinian state 'in contribution to a peace process'. Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'There's no split. The whole of the Labour Party, every Labour MP, was elected on a manifesto of recognition of a Palestinian state, and we all want it to happen. 'It is a case of when, not if.' He added: 'It's about how we use this moment, because you can only do it once to have a meaningful breakthrough.' He had earlier told Sky News that recognition would happen 'in this Parliament [..,.] if it delivers the breakthrough that we need'. Later this week, the Prime Minister is expected to chair a Cabinet meeting on the conflict. The UK is working with Jordan to airdrop aid into Gaza and evacuate children needing medical assistance, with military planners deployed for further support. However, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency has warned such efforts are 'a distraction' that will fail to properly address deepening starvation in the strip, and could in some cases harm civilians. Images and warnings of starvation emerging from Gaza in recent days have piled pressure on the Israeli government over its conduct in the conflict. The Prime Minister held crisis talks with French and German counterparts on Saturday, during which Number 10 said they agreed 'it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently-needed ceasefire into lasting peace'. A Downing Street readout of the call made no mention of Palestinian statehood, which Sir Keir has faced calls to immediately recognise after French president Emmanuel Macron announced his country would do so in September. Some 221 MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and independents have signed a letter pressuring the Government to follow suit at a UN meeting next week. The majority of those who have signed, 131, are Labour MPs.
South Wales Guardian
an hour ago
- South Wales Guardian
Minister dismisses idea of split in Cabinet over Palestinian statehood
Sir Keir Starmer has been facing calls to immediately make the change amid the continued desperate situation in Gaza. Israel announced at the weekend that it would suspend fighting in three areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day and open secure routes for aid delivery Health Secretary Wes Streeting is among those to have signalled a desire for hastened action calling for recognition 'while there's still a state of Palestine left to recognise'. While Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the Government wants to recognise a Palestinian state 'in contribution to a peace process'. Speaking to Good Morning Britain, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: 'There's no split. The whole of the Labour Party, every Labour MP, was elected on a manifesto of recognition of a Palestinian state, and we all want it to happen. 'It is a case of when, not if.' He added: 'It's about how we use this moment, because you can only do it once to have a meaningful breakthrough.' He had earlier told Sky News that recognition would happen 'in this Parliament [..,.] if it delivers the breakthrough that we need'. Later this week, the Prime Minister is expected to chair a Cabinet meeting on the conflict. The UK is working with Jordan to airdrop aid into Gaza and evacuate children needing medical assistance, with military planners deployed for further support. However, the head of the UN's Palestinian refugee agency has warned such efforts are 'a distraction' that will fail to properly address deepening starvation in the strip, and could in some cases harm civilians. Images and warnings of starvation emerging from Gaza in recent days have piled pressure on the Israeli government over its conduct in the conflict. The Prime Minister held crisis talks with French and German counterparts on Saturday, during which Number 10 said they agreed 'it would be vital to ensure robust plans are in place to turn an urgently-needed ceasefire into lasting peace'. A Downing Street readout of the call made no mention of Palestinian statehood, which Sir Keir has faced calls to immediately recognise after French president Emmanuel Macron announced his country would do so in September. Some 221 MPs from Labour, the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, SNP, Greens, Plaid Cymru, SDLP and independents have signed a letter pressuring the Government to follow suit at a UN meeting next week. The majority of those who have signed, 131, are Labour MPs.
