Starmer’s stance on Palestine tests party unity and global credibility Article by POLITICO

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s refusal to move forward with the formal recognition of Palestinian statehood is increasingly isolating him, both internationally and within his own Labour Party. As POLITICO reports, the Labour leader's carefully calibrated stance, rooted in legal caution and diplomatic strategy, is being tested by the intensifying crisis in Gaza and growing impatience from his colleagues.

Starmer insists that recognition must be part of a broader peace process, not a unilateral move — a position he continues to hold despite mounting pressure. Over the past week, 221 MPs from across the political spectrum signed a letter urging him to act, while several Cabinet members have quietly pushed for a shift.

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to recognise Palestinian statehood by September, raising international expectations.

In response, Starmer has proposed his own “pathway to peace,” likening it to the “coalition of the willing” he assembled for Ukraine support. He raised this concept again during a recent meeting with Donald Trump in Scotland, where both acknowledged the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Trump promised to work with European allies to establish food distribution centres but avoided endorsing any position on recognition.

Despite these diplomatic efforts, frustration is building inside Labour. Some backbench MPs are alarmed by what they see as inaction. One MP called Starmer’s response “all words—no action,” while another said recognition was now a minimum expectation. A third noted: “This is being laid squarely at his door.”

Starmer’s caution is driven in part by his desire to maintain strong relations with Trump, who recently dismissed Macron’s recognition plan with the remark: “What he says doesn’t matter.”

Former British national security adviser Peter Ricketts noted this U.S. dynamic was “definitely a factor,” and a second former diplomat added that Starmer’s legal background makes him wary of symbolic moves without clear borders or frameworks. He has also long rejected what he calls “gesture politics,” a stance he reiterated during ceasefire debates in 2023.

While critics argue that this approach is hurting Labour’s standing with voters, others defend it as strategically sound. Former UK Ambassador to the U.S. Kim Darroch said Starmer had “learned the lesson” of dealing with Trump, emphasising the value of private diplomacy over public confrontation.

Labour Friends of Israel chair Jon Pearce also warned that premature recognition could undermine Britain’s neutrality and its role in achieving sustainable peace.

Starmer has acknowledged that recognition is correct in principle, making the question one of timing. Observers believe no major shift is likely before Trump’s state visit in September. This delays any announcement from Foreign Secretary David Lammy at this week’s UN conference, but leaves open the possibility of recognition at the UN General Assembly later this year.

Still, many within Labour fear the damage is already done. “We’ve been persistently behind the curve — and voters will not forgive us,” one MP warned.

By Tamilla Hasanova