UK politics live: Starmer says only viable option in Middle East is two-state solution
Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer calls for an end to the ‘living nightmare’ Palestinians are enduring
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Sir Keir Starmer has warned that a two-state solution is “the only viable long-term route through” the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, as he said Britain’s thoughts are with the Jewish people on the anniversary of the 7 October attacks.
In a speech to the House of Commons, the prime minister called for an end to the “living nightmare” Palestinians are enduring, and vowed to use the “power of diplomacy” to try to minimise suffering on the ground, as he urged Israel to renew efforts for a ceasefire and called for more relief for civilians.
He took aim at Iran, saying the launching of 200 ballistic missiles at Israel last week “exposes, once again, Iran’s malign role in the region”.
His speech comes as David Lammy sought to reassure MPs the Falkland Islands and Gibraltar are “not up for negotiation” amid backlash over his decision to hand the Chagos Islands over to Mauritius.
The Foreign Secretary told the Commons: “I want to reassure the House and all members of the UK family worldwide that this agreement does not signal any change in policy to Britain’s other overseas territories.”
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Starmer asked to confirm UK will not be involved in Israeli response to Iran missile attack
Stephen Flynn of the SNP has asked Sir Keir Starmer to confirm that there “will be no British involvement – be that personnel, facilities or airbases – in any Israeli response” to Iran’s “abhorrent” attack on Israel last week.
Sir Keir replied: “I thank him for his question. I’m not – and he will understand – going in to details on the floor of the House as to our capabilities.
“But he will know that the involvement so far, for example in relation to the attack in April, was in relation to Israel’s self-defence when missiles were raining in on Israel. That is the support that we did provide and would always be prepared to provide.”
Britain must do ‘all it can’ to prevent wider war in Middle East, says Ed Davey
Britain must do “all it can” to prevent a wider war in the Middle East, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said.
Responding to the PM’s statement on the anniversary of the 7 October attacks, Sir Ed said: “We must never forget the trauma of the hostages and their families.
“In Tel Aviv, I met Itzik Horn, a father still praying for his two sons Gair and Eitan to come home,” he said, adding that everything must be done to ensure everyone takes the steps most likely to get the hostages home quickly and safely.
He added: “The last year has seen terrible violence in the Middle East, a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and an appalling spike in hate crimes here in the UK, so we must stand firm against antisemitism [and] Islamophobia.
“We must press for an immediate bilateral ceasefire to end the terrible cycle of violence and bring about lasting peace and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, and we must do all we can to prevent a regional war in the Middle East.”
He continued: “I hope the government will try to convince Israel that keeping her citizens safe and secure is best achieved by restraint, not retaliation, and the risk of regional war.”
Sir Keir Starmer replied: “The messaging is very much de-escalation across the region.”
Labour reshuffle: Who’s in and out after Sue Gray resigns
Sue Gray has resigned as Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff, saying that “intense commentary” around her position had become a “distraction”.
The special adviser became a household name in 2022 when she headed a report into the Partygate scandal, criticising Boris Johnson and the Conservative government of the time.
Ms Gray was given the influential position of Downing Street chief when Labour came into power in July. However, her resignation means she will have held the role for less than 100 days.
You can read the full story below:
Labour reshuffle: Who’s in and out of Starmer’s top team after Sue Gray resigns
Sue Gray resigned less than 100 days after starting her No 10 role
Zarah Sultana urges Starmer to ban all arms sales to Israel
Suspended Labour MP Zarah Sultana has pushed Sir Keir Starmer to ban “all sales to Israel” following his statement on the anniversary of 7 October.
The MP for Coventry South said: “In light of Israel’s genocidal assault in Gaza, the violence in the West Bank and the invasion of Lebanon, I ask the prime minister if he believes that Israel right to self-defence justifies a death toll, which according to research by US medical professionals in Gaza, has now surpassed a 180,000.”
She then asked: “Will he do what is morally and legally right by ending the government complicity in war crimes by banning all arm sales to Israel including F-35 fighter jets not just 30 licenses, yes or no?”
Sir Keir bluntly responded: “No. Banning all sales would mean none for defensive purposes.”
Ms Sultana has been a fierce critic of the prime minister, not only on Israel’s war in Palestine. She was suspended after voting against her party leader on winter fuel payment cuts.
Starmer condemns Iran’s ‘malign role’ in Middle East
Sir Keir Starmer said attacks on Israel expose Iran’s “malign role” in the Middle East, as he reiterated calls for British citizens to leave Lebanon.
In a statement to the Commons, the Prime Minister said: “We support Israel’s right to defend herself against Iran’s aggression, in line with international law, because let’s be very clear, this was not a defensive action by Iran, it was an act of aggression and a major escalation in response to the death of a terrorist leader.
“It exposes, once again, Iran’s malign role in the region: they helped equip Hamas for the seventh of October attacks, they armed Hezbollah, who launched a year-long barrage of rockets on northern Israel, forcing 60,000 Israelis to flee their homes, and they support the Houthis, who mount direct attacks on Israel and continue to attack international shipping.”
He added: “I say again, an important message to British citizens still in Lebanon, you must leave now.”
More than 430 Britons have left Lebanon on chartered flights, PM says
Sir Keir Starmer said more than 430 British citizens had been brought out of Lebanon on chartered flights so far, as he pledged to lead calls for a “political plan” in Lebanon.
He told the Commons: “In the weeks ahead, we will continue this work focused on three areas: firstly, Lebanon, where our immediate priority is the safety of British citizens, our team is on the ground helping to get people out.
“We have already brought over 430 people home on chartered flights, and we stand ready with additional evacuation efforts as necessary.”
“We will continue to lead calls for an immediate ceasefire and the return to a political plan for Lebanon based on security council resolution 1701 which requires Hezbollah to withdraw north of Litani River. They must stop firing rockets and end this now so that people on both sides of the border can return to their homes,” he added.
Sir Keir also urged Israel to allow more aid into Gaza: “The ongoing restrictions on aid are impossible to justify. Israel must open more crossings.”
He added: “Crucially, they must provide a safe haven for aid workers. Too many have been killed, including three British citizens. Israel must act now so that, together with our allies, we can surge humanitarian support ahead of the winter.”
Starmer vows to use ‘power of diplomacy’ to minimise suffering in Middle East
Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to use the “power of diplomacy” to “minimise the suffering on the ground” in the Middle East.
Concluding his statement to the Commons on the anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel, Sir Keir said: “Nobody in this House can truly imagine what it feels like to cower under the bodies of your friends hoping a terrorist won’t find you, mere minutes after dancing at a music festival.
“Nobody in this House can truly imagine seeing your city, your homes, your schools, your hospitals, your businesses obliterated, with your neighbours and family buried underneath.
“It is beyond our comprehension, and with that should come a humility. It is hard even to understand the full depth of this pain, but what we can do is remember. What we can do is respect and listen to the voices that reach out to us at these moments.
“And what we can do is use the power of diplomacy to try and find practical steps that minimise the suffering on the ground and work towards that long-term solution so that a year of this terrible and bloody conflict can never happen again.”
Keir Starmer pressed on two-state solution
The House of Commons has echoed Sir Keir Starmer’s statement about the situation in the Middle East and the 7 October attack.
But Labour MP Clive Betts pressed the prime minister over comments from Benjamin Netanyahu saying he does not accept the two-state solution as a goal.
In response, Sir Keir said it was important to be ‘“very clear” that the two-state solution was “the only viable long-term route through this conflict”.
Sunak responds to Starmer’s speech
Rishi Sunak has responded from Sir Keir Starmer’s statement from the oppostion.
The Tory leader paid tribute to the hostages in Gaza and their families and welcomed the prime minister’s efforts to evacuate Brits trapped in Lebanon.
Starmer says two-state solution must be ultimate goal
The prime minister has urged Israel to renew effors for a ceasefire in Gaza, Palestine.
He called for more relief for civilians, claiming that ongoing restrictions on age are “impossible to justify”.
Sir Keir Starmer added: “Crucially, they must provide a safe haven for aid workers. Too many have been killed, including three British citizens. Israel must act now so that, together with our allies, we can surge humanitarian support ahead of the winter.”
He also urged for long-term solutions and championed for a two-state solution as the ultimate goal.
“That is what MPs have done, and what the government will continue to do,” he said.
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