Leader of the UK’s Conservative Party, Kemi Badenoch, has strongly criticised the Labour-led government’s decision to officially recognise the State of Palestine, describing the move as “absolutely disastrous” and a grave strategic error.
Badenoch, writing on social media platform X, accused Prime Minister Keir Starmer of rewarding terrorism “without any conditions” and ignoring the plight of hostages still held in Gaza.
“Disastrous. Absolutely disastrous. We will all rue the day this decision was made. Rewarding terrorism with no conditions whatsoever put in place for Hamas,” she wrote.
“It leaves hostages languishing in Gaza and does nothing to stop the suffering of innocent people caught in this war.”
The opposition leader said the government was focused on what she called fringe ideological agendas instead of solving Britain’s pressing domestic challenges.
“They cannot fix the NHS, so they push assisted suicide. They cannot create jobs for young people so they give them votes at 16. They cannot sort out immigration but they will recognise Palestine instead,” she said, taking aim at Starmer’s policy direction.
“Everything we are seeing is the consequence of a Prime Minister who has no plan for the country and no judgment.”
Badenoch also referred to the UK’s past decisions on international reparations, criticising Starmer for what she described as “appeasement politics” and promising that the Conservatives would undo what she called a historic mistake.
“He will spend the next four years delivering the hobby horses of the Labour left to stay in power and leave a HUGE mess for us to clean up,” she warned.
On Sunday, the United Kingdom formally recognised the State of Palestine, a move aimed at reviving hope for peace in the Middle East through a two-state solution.
“Today, to revive the hope of peace for the Palestinians and Israelis, and a two-state solution, the United Kingdom formally recognises the State of Palestine,” Starmer posted on X.
Canada and Australia made similar announcements on the same day. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated:
“Canada recognises the State of Palestine and offers our partnership in building the promise of a peaceful future for both the State of Palestine and the State of Israel.”
The UK and Canada are now the first G7 nations to take this step. France and others are expected to follow suit during the UN General Assembly meeting opening this week in New York.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu strongly rejected the recognition, calling it a reward for terrorism and reiterating his government’s firm stance against Palestinian statehood.
“I have a clear message for those leaders who recognise a Palestinian state after the horrific massacre on October 7: you are granting a huge reward to terror,” Netanyahu said in a statement.
“And I have another message for you: it will not happen. No Palestinian state will be established west of the Jordan River.”
Netanyahu also renewed his pledge to continue expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank, which he referred to by its biblical names “Judea and Samaria.”
“We have doubled Jewish settlements in Judea and Samaria, and we will continue on this path,” he said.
