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British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has rejected a call from more than 130 Labour MPs to follow Emmanuel Macron and formally recognise a Palestinian state, amid concerns that the issue would overshadow President Trump's visit to the UK.
The French president announced on Thursday that he would formally recognize a Palestinian state at the UN General Assembly in September, increasing pressure on Starmer.
Cabinet ministers have privately urged the prime minister to do the same, and on Friday more than a third of his MPs signed a letter urging him to do the same.
The issue risks dominating Trump’s four-day visit to the UK, which officially begins on Saturday.
Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said Macron’s decision was “irresponsible” and “only serves Hamas propaganda and hinders peace.” “It’s a slap in the face to the victims of October 7,” he added.
Speaking on Friday before departing for Scotland for a four-day visit, Trump said Macron’s announcement “doesn’t matter.” “He’s a very nice guy. I like him, but that statement doesn’t carry any weight,” he said, adding: “Here’s the good news: What he says doesn’t matter. It won’t change anything.”
Starmer’s hesitation is likely to deepen divisions within the cabinet, with one cabinet member immediately calling the response “deeply inappropriate.”
A senior government source said there were concerns that recognising a Palestinian state during Trump's visit could derail discussions on a US-UK trade deal. Starmer will meet Trump at the latter's Turnberry golf course on Monday.
In a statement released after talks with Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Starmer made it clear that he would not announce such a decision at this time.
Starmer said that while he was “clear and unequivocal” in his support for recognising a Palestinian state, he would only do so at a time when it would have “the maximum benefit in improving the lives of those who suffer”. This means that the UK will not recognise a Palestinian state until there is a ceasefire, the return of the October 7 hostages and the restoration of humanitarian aid to Gaza.
Starmer said: “Together with our closest allies, I am working on a path to peace in the region, focused on practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those suffering from this war.
“This path will outline the concrete steps needed to turn the much-needed ceasefire into a lasting peace.
“Recognition of a Palestinian state should be one of those steps. I am clear about that. But it should be part of a broader plan that ultimately leads to a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis. That is the way to ensure that it is a tool of maximum benefit to improve the lives of those who suffer, which of course will always be our ultimate goal.”
He said the scenes from Gaza were “horrific” and “unstoppable.” “The continued holding of hostages, the starvation and denial of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people, the escalating violence by extremist settler groups and the excessive military escalation by Israel in Gaza are all indefensible,” he said.
He confirmed that the UK would take part in the airdrop of aid to Gaza after Israel said it would allow foreign countries to resume airdropping humanitarian supplies.
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