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The Guardian
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Labour figures urge recognition of Palestinian state at UN conference
Ministers are under pressure from inside and outside Labour to recognise Palestinian statehood at a UN conference next month, with party grandees arguing it would bolster prospects for peace and demonstrate moral leadership amid escalating tensions. Alf Dubs, the veteran Labour peer and Holocaust survivor, said the symbolic recognition of a Palestinian state would offer Palestinians 'the self-respect they'd have if they had a proper state,' and provide them a stronger footing in any future peace negotiations. 'Even if it doesn't lead to anything immediately, it would still give Palestinians a better standing,' Lord Dubs said. 'Symbols matter.' The former cabinet minister Peter Hain echoed the call, warning that 'delaying recognition until negotiations are concluded simply allows Israel's illegal occupation to become permanent'. Lord Hain argued that formal recognition should be 'a catalyst, not a consequence' of peace talks. At the first preparatory meeting in New York before a UN conference on a two state solution due to be held between 17 and 20 June, Saudi Arabia urged countries to recognise Palestine as a state, saying that 'recognition should be seen as a precondition for peace, and not its product'. The conference is seen as a potential moment when states such as France and the UK that have yet to recognise Palestine take what would be a momentous diplomatic step. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, indicated last month that Paris may recognise Palestine, joining 147 other countries, but said he wanted to do so at a UN conference in New York in June as part of a wider process. The UK foreign secretary, David Lammy, has confirmed to parliament he has been in discussions with the French about recognition, but also said he would not simply support a gesture with no practical impact. The Guardian reported last week that the British view is that France was very likely to decide the time was not right to make the announcement. The UK's official position is that it will recognise a Palestinian state, but only at the point of maximum impact. The pressure has been building within Labour's parliamentary ranks as 69 MPs and six peers earlier this month signed a joint letter urging the prime minister to seize what they described as a 'unique window of opportunity' to recognise Palestinian statehood. The Guardian understands that the letter – which was coordinated by the chairs of Labour Friends of Palestine and the Middle East, Sarah Owen and Andrew Pakes – was also signed by several serving ministers. In a concept note for June's UN conference, France and Saudi Arabia, the two co-chairs of the conference say the ambitious aim of the international conference in June 'would not be to 'revive' or to 'relaunch' another endless process, but to implement, once and for all, the two-state solution'. The call to implement the two-state solution has become even more urgent in the context of illegal settlements and other illegal unilateral measures, violence, hate speech and the ongoing plans and actions undertaken for the forcible displacement and dispossession of Palestinians. With eight working parties covering all the issues surrounding a two-state solution, each nation has been asked 'to highlight the actions they are willing to undertake, individually or collectively, in fulfilment of their obligations and in support of the international consensus on the peaceful settlement of the question of Palestine and the two-state solution'. Alex Ballinger, a Labour backbencher and member of the foreign affairs select committee, said it was time for the UK 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 longtime campaigner on Palestinian rights, said Labour must act on its internationalist values. 'Recognition would now be a positive first step towards securing a peaceful two-state solution, end unlawful settlement expansions and blockades, and unlock the diplomatic and humanitarian pathways to lasting justice,' he said, warning that the UK risks 'dragging its feet' while 147 other countries have already recognised a Palestinian state.
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Selling out loyal Gibraltar could be Starmer's next great betrayal
On a flight back from a summit in February 2002, Tony Blair turned to Labour's then Europe minister, Peter Hain, and remarked we should 'remove' Gibraltar as 'an obstacle to relations with the EU'. He was 'insistent' on making a deal and 'contemptuous of Gibraltarian attitudes'. In his memoirs, Hain wrote Gibraltar was 'a little bit of England trying, eccentrically, to cling on to Spain'. He sneered at the Gibraltarians, whom he described as 'rigidly wedded to their idea of Britishness in a totally artificial sense'. Together they hatched a plan to compromise Gibraltar's sovereignty and place it under joint control with Spain. It was only stopped by the Conservatives then in opposition and the Gibraltarians themselves. Two decades later and we are again in a similar position. Jonathan Powell, then Blair's chief of staff, is back as national security adviser, fresh from orchestrating the surrender of the Chagos Islands. We have a new Labour prime minister who similarly views our overseas territories as an imperial hangover that must be offloaded at the first opportunity. And Spain continues to make provocative moves that are designed to intimidate and harass. This week Spanish foreign minister, José Manuel Albares, came to the UK to say we need to solve the issue of Gibraltar to have a full UK-EU relationship. Well, no way, José. Gibraltar is British. End of. Gibraltar does not need to be part of a reset. There can be no deal that compromises Britain's sovereignty, no deal that compromises the UK's military base, and no deal that Gibraltarians do not consent to. Starmer has been unable to shut down speculation of yet another surrender. His loyalty has always been to the EU, the European elites he rubs shoulders with in Davos, and the international legal community. He is not politically stupid enough to commit to rejoin the EU formally, so he is determined to do it by stealth. Thus far he has been willing to make concession after concession to achieve that. Take the security and defence deal he is set to sign later this month. The EU desperately wants this given its chronic underinvestment in security. A prime minister ruthlessly pursuing the UK's self-interest would have tried to get something in return – like a commitment from the EU to take back illegal migrants from France. Starmer has conceded it for nothing while offering fishing grounds and extra powers for the EU court. The fact Starmer's EU negotiations are shrouded in secrecy is a sure sign that this EU reset will break plenty of promises. For months Number 10 fragrantly lied about its secret plan to negotiate an EU-wide youth mobility scheme (free movement-lite) – only to be caught red-handed by the UK press. This is in sharp contrast to the transparent approach taken by the then Conservative chief negotiator, David Frost, where the UK Government was clear about its aims. Gibraltarians are right to be concerned. Starmer has proven himself completely incapable of putting Britain's interests first. Everywhere you look he has folded under pressure. He was outmanoeuvred by the Mauritian government (hardly the most powerful negotiating party), folded to India's tax demands and has been bullied by Trump into lowering tariffs while US tariffs increased threefold. He is the archetypal citizen of nowhere, governing to further the global good – not the nation's needs. The Conservatives will oppose every handover of our powers, every step of the way.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tidal electricity plan branded 'expensive cop out'
A tidal lagoon should be created in the Severn Estuary to generate electricity, according to a report. The Severn Estuary Commission rejected proposals for a large barrage spanning the Severn. Instead, it said the UK and Welsh governments should back plans for a smaller project to harness the power of the tide on the England-Wales border. The proposals were criticised by former Labour Welsh secretary Lord Peter Hain, who said lagoons were a very expensive "cop out". The commission said a tidal lagoon demonstration project – the first in the world – would boost the economy and provide a better understanding of tidal power. Demand for electricity in the UK is likely to more than double by 2050, the commission said. The Severn Estuary has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world, offering "a rare opportunity" for the UK. Tidal energy plans 'must have nature in mind' Can the UK's tides help wean us off fossil fuels? £60m port revamp aims to create 1,800 jobs There have been several proposals to build a barrage across the Severn, but without formal government support they failed to attract funding. Environmental groups oppose building a barrage in the estuary – a highly-protected wetland of international importance. Lagoons are formed by building a wall around a bay or on the coast to capture water when the tide comes in. At low tide the water is released, turning turbines to generate electricity. There have been proposals to build a lagoon in Swansea Bay. One plan, which had the backing of the Welsh government, was thrown out by the Conservative UK government in 2018 because it did not offer value for money. The Severn Estuary Commission report said the UK and Welsh governments should set up an organisation with the private sector to create the lagoon as a "commercial demonstration project". It would show the potential for tidal power and measure the impact on the local environment. They should also look at ways to compensate for any loss of habitat, it said. The report added: "A lagoon project would provide both engineering experience and real-world monitoring of environmental effects. "Development of a tidal lagoon therefore offers a positive alternative to a barrage." Commission chair Andrew Garrad said if work began now a lagoon could be up and running within 10 years. "It is a big thing and it's going to last for 120 years," he said. "We know how to build a sea wall and the big turbines have been operating in hydro plant all over the world for decades. "The commercial challenge is not engineering – it's logistics and money." But Lord Hain, who quit as shadow Welsh secretary in 2012 to back proposals for a barrage between south Wales and Weston-super-Mare, called the lagoon proposals "very underwhelming, disappointing and confused". "Lagoons do harness tidal power but as the Swansea project proved they are very expensive and are a cop out which won't harness the ginormous but untapped natural power of the Severn Estuary," he told BBC Wales. "You'd need 50 lagoons cluttering up the estuary to rival a barrage which remains by far the best option: delivering cheap electricity with new bi-directional turbines which are fish friendly and generate baseload electricity because its lunar based and therefore predictable and almost constant." RSPB Cymru previously urged the Seven Estuary Commission to strike the right balance in a location "globally important for wildlife, providing vital habitats for tens of thousands of wading birds and water fowl, and for rare fish species that migrate from the sea to spawn in our rivers". Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds called on UK ministers to revive the plans, cancelled in 2018, for a Swansea Bay Tidal Lagoon. "Tidal power offers huge advantages to Wales, not only in generating electricity but in its potential to create well-paid jobs," she said. "The UK government seems perfectly happy to spend large amounts on infrastructure in the south east of England, its time they made some investments in Wales." Welsh government Economy Secretary, Rebecca Evans, said: "We want to make Wales a world centre for emerging tidal technologies, and the Severn Estuary is a source of immense potential energy as one of the highest tidal ranges in the world. "I welcome the work of the Severn Estuary Commission and I look forward to working with the UK government and the Western Gateway to make sure that we can harness its potential whilst also protecting this unique asset."
The Independent
16-03-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Shocking state of asbestos-ridden Houses of Parliament uncovered in new survey
At least 44 fires have broken out in the Houses of Parliament over the past decade, with more than 1,000 incidents of asbestos uncovered, figures have shown. Concerns have been raised repeatedly that the iconic Westminster building could face a Notre-Dame style blaze if restoration work is not completed, with four fires in 2024 alone. However, plans to restore the Palace of Westminster are likely to cost billions, with the fastest option likely to take more than a decade and would consist of both the House of Lords and Commons relocating on a temporary basis. Details of the toxic materials were released to Labour peer Peter Hain, which showed that asbestos had been found in 1,057 items. 'Along with persistent and regular fire outbreaks – 44 recorded over the last 10 years – which could erupt at any time and burn down parliament, the whole Palace of Westminster is infested with asbestos,' Mr Hain told The Guardian. 'Over 1,000 cases of such a real and present danger to MPs, peers, staff and visitors have been identified. This iconic world heritage site should be decanted, renewed and restored as soon as possible, as both the Commons and Lords agreed years ago. 'We are otherwise working in a potential Notre Dame inferno compounded by a potentially lethal asbestosis threat.' The report said that management surveys were monitoring the items to see if they needed to be removed. Deputy Lords speaker John Gardiner confirmed in December that new plans for restoration would only be available later this year, which include three options, which includes a full relocation, a continued presence only for some parliamentarians, and a rolling programme of works. However, it is likely to divide MPs as each of the plans cost billions, with the rolling programme of works likely to take up to 70 years.
The Guardian
16-03-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Fire could ‘burn down parliament' and asbestos is rife, surveys show
More than 1,000 incidents of asbestos have been discovered in parliament and at least 44 fires have broken out over the past decade, alarming new figures show. The details of the prevalence of the toxic material in the parliament buildings were released to the Labour peer and former cabinet minister Lord Peter Hain, who has repeatedly warned that parliament faces the possibility of a Notre Dame-style inferno if restoration work is not sped up. There were four fires in the Palace of Westminster in 2024 alone – and 13 since 2020, though the numbers dropped significantly during the pandemic when the estate was in limited use. In 2016, there were 10 fires. In further details released to Hain, parliamentary authorities revealed that asbestos materials had been found in 1,057 items to date. The report said management surveys were continuing to identify and monitor the presence of asbestos-containing materials to address whether they need to be continually monitored, or removed if they are at risk of disturbance. 'Detailed processes are in place to support safe invasive works including support from an asbestos analytical consultant and removal of asbestos-containing materials via a licensed asbestos removal contractor,' the reply to Hain from the deputy Lords speaker, Lord John Gardiner, said. Hain said it was time to consider a faster programme of works to decant and restore parliament, a decision now unlikely to be taken until the end of the year. 'Along with persistent and regular fire outbreaks – 44 recorded over the last 10 years – which could erupt at any time and burn down parliament, the whole Palace of Westminster is infested with asbestos,' Hain said. 'Over 1,000 cases of such a real and present danger to MPs, peers, staff and visitors have been identified. This iconic world heritage site should be decanted, renewed and restored as soon as possible, as both the Commons and Lords agreed years ago. We are otherwise working in a potential Notre Dame inferno compounded by a potentially lethal asbestosis threat.' Gardiner confirmed in December that the new plans for the restoration would only be available later this year, which Hain called 'another kick of the can further down the road'. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion The proposals are set to include plans for three options: a full decant of the Palace of Westminster, a continued presence in the building for some parliamentarians, or a rolling programme of enhanced maintenance and improvement. A vote is expected in both houses on the plans when they are finally delivered, with MPs likely to be bitterly divided on whether it is essential to leave the building, the cheapest option. Options to be considered by MPs are all likely to cost billions. The fastest – which could still take more than a decade – would be for both houses to leave the palace and relocate nearby on a temporary basis, estimated to cost between £7bn and £13bn. The most costly option, a rolling programme of works, is likely to take many decades, potentially up to 70 years.
