The Liberal Democrat leaders demand: "The UK Government must recognise Palestine as an independent state now"
"The UK Government must recognise Palestine as an independent state now", Calum Miller MP, Lib Dem Foreign Affairs Spokesperson told the UK Labour Government on Tues 10 June. Slough Lib Dem Cllrs support the Lib Dem campaign for a two-state solution.
Slough Lib Dem councillors (see photo) support the Lib Dem campaign to persuade Labour that more actions are desperately needed NOW to support Palestinians.
Slough Lib Dems also welcome this article in Liberal Democrat Voice by Anne-Marie Simpson, Chair of Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, which highlights that the Lib Dems are the UK party with the strongest record of supporting the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Anne-Marie wrote to Sir Ed Davey MP, Leader of the Lib Dems, on Monday 11 June 2025, asking for even stronger action to support the Palestinian population in Gaza. Dear Ed
As the chair of Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, I am writing to you to express my appreciation for your principled leadership in speaking out against the atrocities unfolding in Gaza. Your question to the Prime Minister in this week’s PMQs powerfully highlighted the dire humanitarian situation in the Strip, where Israeli forces are shooting at starving Palestinians as they attempt to access aid. The Early Day Motion you tabled on Tuesday, signed by every Liberal Democrat MP, sets out a clear and unified statement condemning Israel’s actions in Gaza and the West Bank and reaffirming our Party’s commitment to peace, accountability, and a just two-state solution. At a time when many remain silent or equivocate, your leadership has given voice to the values we share and the urgency this moment demands.
As your EDM acknowledges, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza has reached appalling new levels. The entire population is facing famine, while the US-Israel aid distribution plan has been exposed as insufficient, unworkable, and profoundly dangerous. Israel’s renewed ground offensive has brought intensified bombing, forced mass displacement, and the continued killing of civilians and aid workers. Meanwhile, as attention remains fixed on Gaza, the Israeli Government has approved 22 new settlements in the illegally occupied West Bank – the largest such expansion in decades – with Defence Minister Katz vowing to “build a Jewish Israeli state” in the territory.
The Liberal Democrats have been a vocal and consistent voice for Palestinians in Parliament. Our MPs have continually called out Israel’s violations of International Humanitarian Law and urged the UK Government to implement decisive measures, including comprehensive sanctions, a full arms embargo, and immediate UK recognition of the Palestinian state. Given the urgent situation on the ground, it is vital the leadership builds on this momentum, working with Parliamentarians across the Party to sustain pressure on the Government and push for concrete, immediate action to end the intolerable suffering in Gaza.
The Party must now raise its voice outside the four walls of Parliament. As Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine, we are often met with surprise when speaking to members of the public, many of whom do not realise the Party has taken such a strong stance. Our media interventions on foreign affairs have tended to focus on the actions of Trump or Putin, while the atrocities committed by Netanyahu’s Government receive comparatively little attention. While we rightly focus on the suffering of the people of Ukraine and Putin’s brutality, we do not give the same weight and attention to Palestine and the Palestinians, as the death toll and immeasurable suffering of the people of Gaza continues to rise. For many ethnic communities, this implies that “western lives” are valued above those of others. We urge the leadership to take a more prominent role in amplifying our position through op-eds, interviews, and sustained public advocacy.
In addition to increasing the pressure on the Government to act, this would also ensure we remain in step with public opinion. A recent poll found that 86% of Labour voters and 67% of Conservative voters support an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The same poll revealed that 55% of the public support ending arms sales to Israel for the duration of the conflict – with only 13% opposing this – while just 12% approve of the Labour Government’s current response. At a time when public concern about Gaza is high and trust in Labour is falling, we are missing a critical opportunity to connect with voters looking for a clear moral stance. With opinion polls showing you are the most popular of the main party leaders, you have a special opportunity to champion a just and lasting peace in Palestine and Israel.
There is also a strategic imperative to speak out on Palestine. As the Government is slowly forced to respond to the unbearable reality on the ground – with talk of recognising the state of Palestine and imposing sanctions on extremist Israeli ministers – we appear to be reaching a tipping point. These are policies the Liberal Democrats have championed for years. But if we are not visible now, as they finally move into the political mainstream, we risk missing the opportunity to show leadership in an area where we have consistently taken the clearest position of any major British political party. This could have electoral implications in the coming year.
In April, my colleagues and I wrote to you to request an urgent meeting to discuss the situation in Palestine. Since then, the humanitarian and political situation has only deteriorated. Now, more than ever, is the time for decisive action. We remain eager to speak with you directly about how our party can continue to lead with clarity, consistency, and moral conviction to ensure a just and lasting resolution for the Palestinian people, who have been the principal victims of the cycles of violence in historic Palestine for over a hundred years.
Best regards,
Anne-Marie Simpson
Chair of Liberal Democrat Friends of Palestine (LDFP)