UK PM faces mounting pressure to recognise Palestine as a state post French recognition
The move by French President Emmanuel Macron has stirred a renewed debate in Westminster over the UK's long-standing position on the issue, reports BBC.
According to a report released today by the Foreign Affairs Committee, senior parliamentarians have been urging the government to act without delay.
It comes as senior Labour MPs, as well as Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, intensify pressure on Downing Street to ensure the UK does not 'fall behind' its European counterparts.
Although successive UK governments have expressed support for a two-state solution, Britain has yet to grant official recognition to Palestine. Starmer himself has previously stated that such recognition should come 'at the moment of maximum impact,' though he has not outlined specific conditions or a timeline.
The UK's Minister for the Middle East, Peter Kyle, reiterated that the government remains committed to recognising Palestinian statehood, but emphasised that this must happen when sovereignty can be exercised in practice. Appearing on BBC Breakfast, he did not give a date, and instead stressed the urgency of the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
'Our priority today is to focus on the emergency we have before us — to get food on people's plates and support those in urgent need,' he said.
'It is a manifesto commitment of this government that we want to establish statehood for Palestine. But it needs to happen in a way that is empowering and delivers the long-term peace and stability that Palestine needs.'
Kyle added that the Prime Minister is convening a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron and Germany's opposition leader Friedrich Merz to address the worsening conditions in the region.
Despite growing calls for action, Downing Street maintains that a ceasefire is the immediate priority.
Starmer has so far refrained from confirming whether the UK would follow France's example, amid concerns that premature recognition could complicate diplomatic efforts or diverge too far from Washington's stance.
Meanwhile, grassroots organisations and human rights groups are ramping up advocacy efforts, arguing that recognition would bolster efforts for a viable peace process and offer a political lifeline to the Palestinian Authority.
As international pressure builds, Starmer's administration faces a delicate balancing act — between humanitarian urgency, strategic diplomacy, and the expectations of its own parliamentary bench.
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