Reacting to today’s emergency cabinet meeting on Gaza and Keir Stamer’s statement, Green Party MP, Ellie Chowns, who is the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, said:

“What Starmer has said today suggests Palestinian statehood is a bargaining chip, only to be awarded if the Israeli government fails to end the genocide in Gaza and agrees to a range of other conditions such as allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid and ending annexations in the West Bank.

“While these conditions are welcome and essential steps towards a ceasefire and a peaceful solution, they must not be an alternative to recognising Palestinian statehood. This is a cynical political gesture ahead of the outcomes of the UN Conference and suggests that if Israel were to comply with the demands, Palestinian statehood would be kicked down the road again, disenfranchising the Palestinian people.

“The Green Party calls on Keir Starmer to immediately and unconditionally recognise a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution, just as Labour promised to do in their election manifesto.”

Reacting to today’s emergency cabinet meeting on Gaza and Keir Stamer’s statement, Green Party MP, Ellie Chowns, who is the party’s foreign affairs spokesperson, said:

“What Starmer has said today suggests Palestinian statehood is a bargaining chip, only to be awarded if the Israeli government fails to end the genocide in Gaza and agrees to a range of other conditions such as allowing the UN to restart the supply of aid and ending annexations in the West Bank.

“While these conditions are welcome and essential steps towards a ceasefire and a peaceful solution, they must not be an alternative to recognising Palestinian statehood. This is a cynical political gesture ahead of the outcomes of the UN Conference and suggests that if Israel were to comply with the demands, Palestinian statehood would be kicked down the road again, disenfranchising the Palestinian people.

“The Green Party calls on Keir Starmer to immediately and unconditionally recognise a Palestinian state as part of a two-state solution, just as Labour promised to do in their election manifesto.”

Responding to jubilant scenes in London where the Lionesses were seen parading the streets after winning the Euro 25 cup, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, Siân Berry, said now was the time to “build on this momentum.”

“The historic and dramatic Lionesses Euros win has been such a boost and inspiration for budding footballers and for all sport. It is a reminder of how important sport is for our health, community cohesion and joy. We must build on this momentum,” she said.

Berry added:

“The Green Party wants to see more of these sporting victories in the future, and for local authorities to be properly funded so we can maintain key grassroots sporting infrastructure including pools and playing fields. Sport is a good tool for our public health and an important measure in tackling obesity.

“We also need to ensure sport is more accessible, and that opportunities to participate reach into our diverse communities. School playing fields must be protected from development and, outside school hours, school sporting facilities should be open for local clubs and teams to use.”

Responding to jubilant scenes in London where the Lionesses were seen parading the streets after winning the Euro 25 cup, Green MP for Brighton Pavilion, Siân Berry, said now was the time to “build on this momentum.”

“The historic and dramatic Lionesses Euros win has been such a boost and inspiration for budding footballers and for all sport. It is a reminder of how important sport is for our health, community cohesion and joy. We must build on this momentum,” she said.

Berry added:

“The Green Party wants to see more of these sporting victories in the future, and for local authorities to be properly funded so we can maintain key grassroots sporting infrastructure including pools and playing fields. Sport is a good tool for our public health and an important measure in tackling obesity.

“We also need to ensure sport is more accessible, and that opportunities to participate reach into our diverse communities. School playing fields must be protected from development and, outside school hours, school sporting facilities should be open for local clubs and teams to use.”

On the need to recognise the state of Palestine, Green Party Co-Leader, Carla Denyer MP, said,

“Recognising the state of Palestine is a bare minimum that governments across the world can do to help bring an end to the genocide being carried out by the Israeli government in Gaza – and yet the UK government is falling behind other nations in taking even this most basic step.

“The UK government must join France in recgonsing the state of Palestine – as well as enacting a full arms embargo, widespread sanctions, a ban on the import of settlement goods, and funding for evidence collection for prosecutions.

“Time and time again our leaders have called the situation ‘intolerable’ and yet continue to tolerate it – we must see real action to end the genocide.”