Latest news with #EmilyThornberry
The Independent
an hour ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Sadiq Khan knighted in Buckingham Palace ceremony
Sadiq Khan, the first London mayor to win a third term, has been knighted by King Charles at Buckingham Palace for political and public service. Sir Sadiq mentioned he and the King joked about who is 'a bigger workaholic' during the ceremony, which his family, including his mother, attended. The 54-year-old said he was most proud of his work to ensure free school meals for primary school children, as well as 'cleaning the air and investing in affordable housing'. Sir Loyd Grossman, known for his cooking sauces, was also knighted for services to heritage, particularly for his work with The Royal Parks, which he says are vital to Londoners. Dame Emily Thornberry, Labour MP for Islington South and Finsbury, was also honoured at Buckingham Palace for political and public service.
BBC News
5 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Sir Sadiq Khan formally receives his knighthood from King Charles
The Mayor of London Sir Sadiq Khan has been knighted by King Charles at Buckingham formal ceremony saw the mayor go down on one knee and be dubbed with a sword by the monarch, the traditional process for conferring a knighthood. Sir Sadiq, who was re-elected for a third term in May 2024, is the first mayor of London to receive the honour. When the honour was confirmed in December Sir Sadiq said it was already the "honour of my life to serve the city I love" and that he was "truly humbled" to have been made a knight. Sir Sadiq was recognised in the New Year Honours for his political and public the Conservatives have criticised his knighthood, with Shadow Home Secretary and Croydon South MP Chris Philp claiming Londoners "will rightly be furious his track record of failure is being rewarded". The mayor worked as a human rights lawyer before entering Parliament as MP for Tooting for Labour in 2005. He became mayor of London in 2016, replacing Boris Johnson, and has since won two further honoured on Tuesday was Dame Emily Thornberry, MP for Islington South and Finsbury since 2005, who formally received her damehood at the Buckingham Palace ceremony for political and public service.
Arab News
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Arab News
UK FM facing calls to recognize Palestine statehood
LONDON: The governing Labour Party chair of the foreign affairs committee is pushing for UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy to recognize Palestine as a state, the Daily Telegraph reported on Wednesday. MP Emily Thornberry said the move would be a 'first step' if Lammy announced British recognition next month at a high-level conference co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. It follows Lammy's halting of trade talks with Israel and the summoning of the country's ambassador in response to Tel Aviv's renewed Gaza offensive. Labour's manifesto at the last general election said the party was 'committed' to recognizing Palestine within the context of a two-state solution. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long vowed to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state. Thornberry told the Telegraph: 'I think Britain and France should recognize Palestine at the New York conference chaired by Saudi Arabia in June. 'The two signatories of the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement, which created the borders of the Middle East as we see today, would be very powerful. 'It would be a first step in working multilaterally to update Oslo, build on the Arab Deal and create a new peace deal proposal.' The conference in the US will be held from June 17-20, and aims to galvanize support for the two-state solution. French diplomats have said the event will likely lead to more countries recognizing Palestine as a state. David Cameron, who served as foreign secretary in the previous Conservative government, said last year that Britain was weighing whether to recognize Palestine. In the UN, 139 of 193 member states recognize Palestine, while Israel is recognized by 165. In 2021, the UK abstained in a UN General Assembly vote that granted Palestine 'non-member observer' status. Labour MP Rachael Maskell said: 'With the imminent catastrophic loss of life through starvation and military operations, the government must hesitate no longer in fully recognizing the state of Palestine. 'The reprehensible actions of the Israeli government must be held to account, so full sanctions and ceasing all arms sales must also take place immediately.' Lammy, speaking in the House of Commons this week, condemned Israel's expansion of the Gaza war as an 'affront to the values of British people.' He added: 'History will judge them.' Lammy outlined a series of sanctions against Israeli settlers who are targeting Palestinian communities in the occupied West Bank. 'Blocking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners. This is indefensible and it must stop,' he said. Some MPs say the government should take further action over the Gaza war, such as a complete arms embargo on Israel and sanctions on senior members of its government, including Netanyahu.
Telegraph
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Emily Thornberry leads calls for David Lammy to recognise Palestine as state
Dame Emily Thornberry is leading calls for David Lammy to recognise Palestine as a state. The Labour chairman of the foreign affairs committee said it would be a 'first step' for the Foreign Secretary to announce British recognition next month. It comes after Mr Lammy halted trade negotiations with Israel and summoned its ambassador in protest of the country's renewed offensive in Gaza this week. Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, has vowed to block the establishment of a Palestinian state. At the last general election, Labour's manifesto said the party was 'committed' to recognising Palestine as part of a two-state solution alongside a 'safe and secure' Israel. Ms Thornberry told The Telegraph: 'I think Britain and France should recognise Palestine at the New York Conference chaired by Saudi Arabia in June. 'The two signatories of the 1916 Sykes-Picot agreement which created the borders of the Middle East as we see today would be very powerful. 'It would be a first step in working multilaterally to update Oslo, build on the Arab Deal and create a new peace deal proposal.' An international conference aimed at securing a two-state solution will take place in the US from Jun 17 to Jun 20 and will be co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. French diplomats have said the event is likely to pave the way for more states to recognise Palestine. Rachael Maskell, the Labour MP for York Central and a former shadow cabinet minister, added: 'With the imminent catastrophic loss of life through starvation and military operations, the Government must hesitate no longer in fully recognising the state of Palestine. 'The reprehensible actions of the Israeli government must be held to account, so full sanctions and ceasing all arms sales must also take place immediately.' Lord Cameron, Mr Lammy's Conservative predecessor, said last year that the UK was considering whether to formally recognise Palestine. He insisted the UK had a 'responsibility' to work towards a two-state solution involving an independent Palestinian state coexisting with the nation of Israel. In 2021, the UK abstained in a vote at the United Nations General Assembly which gave Palestine 'non-member observer' status. A total of 139 out of 193 member states of the UN currently recognise Palestine, while Israel is recognised by 165, including the UK. Speaking in the Commons this week, Mr Lammy said Israel's expansion of its ground operation was an 'affront to the values of British people' and warned ' history will judge them '. Israel is under pressure from the international community to end its war against Hamas, which was launched after Hamas massacred about 1,200 Israelis on Oct 7, 2023. Mr Netanyahu is also facing calls to allow the flow of aid into the Gaza Strip, where two million people are at risk of famine. Mr Lammy said: 'Blocking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners. This is indefensible and it must stop.' He also unveiled a package of sanctions against extremist Israeli settlers who are committing violence against Palestinian communities. It is the strongest measure taken by Labour against Israel since it suspended about 10 per cent of arms exports to the country in September. However, there are still concerns among Sir Keir Starmer's backbenchers that the party's policy on the Middle East conflict does not go far enough. Some Labour MPs have demanded a complete arms embargo, an idea ruled out by Mr Lammy in the past, as well as sanctions on Mr Netanyahu and his ministers. Sir Keir's initial refusal to call for an unconditional ceasefire in the region has cost Labour dear with Muslim voters at the ballot box. Five independent MPs were elected on pro-Gaza tickets at the general election last summer, a trend that was replicated at the county council elections earlier this month.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Nigel Farage Roasted By Emily Thornberry Over EU Deal 'Surrender' Claim
Emily Thornberry has thrown shade at Nigel Farage after he accused the government of 'surrendering' to the European Union. The Reform UK leader has already condemned a deal Keir Starmer is negotiating with Brussels to 'reset' Britain's relations with Brussels, even though it is yet to be finalised. The prime minister will unveil the details of the agreement following a UK-EU summit at Lancaster House in London on Monday. It is expected to include a youth mobility deal allowing 18 to 30-year-olds to travel more easily between Britain and the bloc. British holidaymakers will also be able to use e-gates at European airports instead of having to queue for hours to have their passports stamped. An agreement over veterinary and food rules will make trade between the UK and EU more easy. The UK is also set to agree to give French fishermen greater access to British waters in return for a security and defence deal with Brussels. Farage said: 'The whole 'reset' is an abject surrender from Starmer and politically something he will come to regret.' But appearing on LBC today, Labour MP Thornberry hit back at the arch-Brexiteer. She said: 'I don't think the public thinks that's relevant. I think they think it's political elite talking to themselves and it's not really about real life. 'They do want, if their neighbours run a small business, to be able to export sausages to France and for it not to be held up. 'They do want to be able to travel to Europe and not have their passport stamped and be able to go through e-gates and be able to travel more easily, and they want more money in the economy.' Asked specifically about Farage's 'surrender' claim, Thornberry said: 'Big word for him, isn't it?' She added: 'Their's 13 of these youth mobility schemes already with the UK and the sky hasn't fallen in, and I think youngsters in Britain would like to be able to travel in Europe and so it has to be reciprocal.' 'Is a youth mobility scheme 'surrender' like Nigel Farage said?''Well, you know… Big word for him, isn't it?@EmilyThornberry dismisses the Reform leader's complaints. — LBC (@LBC) May 18, 2025 Labour Have Struck A Deal With The EU Which Could Massively Improve Your Holiday Experience 'Are You Embarrassed': Sky News Presenter Mocks Senior Tory Over Labour's Trade Deals 'When Will Yvette Cooper Resign?': Trevor Phillips Skewers Minister Over Cabinet Splits On EU Deal
