'Stop the excuses': SNP urges UK government to recognise Palestinian state

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has urged the UK government to “stop the excuses” and follow other European nations in recognising the state of Palestine.  

The call comes in the wake of French President Emmanuel Macron’s UK state visit, during which he reaffirmed his support for Palestinian statehood.  

Brendan O’Hara, SNP’s Middle East spokesperson and MP for Argyll, Bute and South Lochaber, called on the government to "muster a shred of conviction and courage" over Gaza, where Israel's 21-month-long offensive has killed at least 57,823 Palestinians since 7 October 2023.  

O’Hara echoed Macron’s remarks this week, who stated that recognition of Palestine is “the only path to peace”. 

"President Macron was crystal clear that he is preparing to join other European nations in recognising the state of Palestine and that he is pressing the UK to join this ‘political momentum’ towards a ceasefire and a permanent peace," O’Hara said, 

“Keir Starmer should stop the excuses and join him in recognising the state of Palestine without any more damaging delays. 

"That would send the clearest of signals that we are prepared to protect and guarantee the right of the Palestinian people to their own homeland- and that all diplomatic levers will be used to prevent any plan that effectively proposes ethnic cleansing in Gaza."

He continued: "It is also blindingly obvious that anyone claiming to support a two-state solution must back immediate recognition of Palestine, otherwise their words ring hollow. 

"If after this week Westminster stays sitting on its hands and fails to use the power it has to act, then they will be totally complicit in giving the [Benjamin] Netanyahu government impunity to commit week upon week of slaughter, even deadlier than the one Palestinians have just suffered."

The SNP noted that 144 UN member states — including Ireland, Spain, and Norway — have already recognised Palestine, while French President Macron, even prior to his UK visit, reaffirmed his intention for France to do the same, believing it would help advance a two-state solution. 

O’Hara also urged the UK government to halt arms sales t

o Israel, warning that Westminster’s failure to "use the power it has" would render it "totally complicit" in what he described as a "slaughter".  

The SNP Middle East spokesperson added: "If the UK government could muster just a shred of conviction and courage, they would have the power to act. After witnessing another week of slaughter, the Labour Party could, and should, begin this new week by taking two concrete steps."

O'Hara’s remarks come after he joined 59 other MPs this week in urging Foreign Secretary David Lammy to immediately recognise Palestine as a state.

Lammy said earlier this week that the government remains “completely committed” to recognising the state of Palestine, though he stopped short of setting a clear timetable, describing it as a “moving, live situation".

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) stated: 
"From day one, we have taken decisive action: suspending relevant export licences, halting trade negotiations, restarting United Nations Relief and Works Agency funding, sanctioning Israeli ministers, providing aid to hundreds of thousands of civilians, and using our position on the UN Security Council to demand an end to this war and a full resumption of aid into Gaza. 

"We continue to work with international partners to end Palestinian suffering, free the hostages, and secure lasting Middle East peace."

While the UK boosted its aid commitments to Palestinians in May, rights organisations in the country, including Amnesty UK to Liberty, recently criticised the Labour government for proscribing the direct-action group Palestine Action under anti-terror laws last week. 

Rights groups have denounced the move, warning that the crackdown could erode civil liberties and silence dissent over Britain’s role in the arms trade. 

On Saturday, over 70 protesters were arrested outside Parliament after publicly pledging support to Palestine Action.