Senior Labour MP Emily Thornberry has urged the UK government to formally recognize the state of Palestine, deepening the debate within Westminster just weeks after several European states made similar moves. Her intervention comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over Britain’s Middle East policy and mounting calls for a shift in approach following Labour’s landslide victory in the 2024 general election.

Speaking against the backdrop of continued violence in Gaza and growing international recognition of Palestinian statehood, Thornberry called for what she described as “a principled and timely step” toward restoring diplomatic credibility. While she did not specify a timeline, her appeal adds to the pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration to adopt a more assertive stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict—an issue that has divided parties and voters alike.

The UK’s current position remains unchanged, despite the momentum from European neighbors. In Parliament last week, Foreign Secretary David Lammy defended the government’s cautious approach, emphasising that while countries including Ireland, Spain, and Norway have recently extended recognition to Palestine, the UK intends to act “in its own time and based on its own judgement of what will advance peace.” Speaking to MPs, Lammy reiterated that recognition would remain a strategic tool rather than a symbolic gesture, adding that “rushing ahead” could undermine efforts toward a negotiated solution.

Thornberry’s comments underscore a growing impatience among Labour backbenchers, many of whom have long advocated for Palestinian recognition as part of the UK’s historical responsibility dating back to the Balfour Declaration. “We must stop treating recognition as a reward to be earned, and instead treat it as the starting point to re-engage a stalled peace process,” one MP closely aligned with Thornberry commented, pointing to the perceived failure of past diplomatic frameworks. The call appears designed not only to press the government but also to expand the narrative around the UK’s role in the region.

Internationally, the recognition of Palestine by several EU member states has buoyed supporters of the two-state solution, while also reviving contentious debate among diplomats. Advocates argue that such moves provide a needed push to reframe negotiations from a standpoint of legal equality. Recent statements from European leaders have characterized recognition as essential step “toward justice and peace,” though critics argue it may embolden hardline factions or complicate broader regional negotiations.

In the UK, the question of recognition dovetails with larger shifts in Labour’s foreign policy posture. Since assuming office, Starmer has sought to reposition Britain as a more measured global actor, with Lammy repeatedly reiterating a preference for multilateral engagement and long-term stability. But the evolving situation on the ground—including widespread humanitarian fallout in Gaza and a rapid expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank—has added urgency to the debate. International observers have warned that the viability of a two-state framework is diminishing quickly, with some experts noting that any delay in recognition risks entrenching the current trajectory of the conflict.

Meanwhile, pro-recognition voices continue to frame their demands in moral terms, emphasizing humanitarian consequences rather than merely geopolitical strategy. “This isn’t just about diplomacy—it’s about survival,” said a UK-based Palestinian rights advocate, citing the ongoing blockade conditions in Gaza and limited access to critical resources. Others within Labour’s left-leaning factions argue that recognition should be accompanied by clear consequences for violations of international law, including economic penalties on settlement activity and greater scrutiny of arms sales.

The government has so far declined to commit to any immediate policy shift, though officials have acknowledged that the discussion is evolving. Thornberry’s remarks, delivered with the weight of senior parliamentary standing and long-time party recognition, have the potential to reframe internal deliberations. Whether they translate into concrete policy in the coming months remains uncertain—but the political and diplomatic calculus surrounding Palestine appears to be shifting, both in Westminster and beyond.