More than 200 Members of the UK Parliament have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to recognize the State of Palestine. In a joint letter signed by 221 MPs from nine political parties, lawmakers appealed to both the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary David Lammy, asking for recognition ahead of the upcoming UN Conference co-chaired by France and Saudi Arabia on July 28–29 in New York.
The letter emphasizes that although the UK cannot by itself establish an independent Palestinian state, its recognition would carry symbolic and diplomatic weight due to its historical ties to the region and its position as a permanent member of the UN Security Council.
The initiative was led by Labour MP Sarah Champion, chair of the International Development Committee. Signatories include members of the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Green, and SNP parties, along with independent MPs.
French President Emmanuel Macron recently announced that France will recognize Palestine in September during the UN General Assembly. In contrast, PM Starmer stated the UK would only move forward with recognition as part of a comprehensive peace agreement—disappointing many within his own party.
