Pressure grows on Starmer over Gaza ahead of Trump meeting

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet US President Donald Trump later amid growing pressure to recognise the State of Palestine.

The prime minister will meet the president at Turnberry in Ayrshire before the two men travel onto Aberdeen together.

They are expected to discuss the implementation of a recently agreed UK-US trade deal as well as the need for a ceasefire in the Middle East, bringing an end to what Downing Street has called “the unspeakable suffering and starvation in Gaza” as well as a return of the hostages taken by Hamas.

More than a third of MPs have now signed a letter calling on Starmer to recognise Palestine as an independent and sovereign state. It follows an announcement last week by French President Emmanuel Macron that France will become the first G7 country to do so.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Macron’s statement “reckless”, saying the US, Israel’s staunchest ally, strongly rejected the recognition of Palestinian statehood.

Starmer has previously said that recognising Palestinian statehood would have to be part of a “wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution”.

In a statement release on Friday, the PM said: “Alongside our closest allies, I am working on a pathway to peace in the region, focused on the practical solutions that will make a real difference to the lives of those that are suffering in this war.

“That pathway will set out the concrete steps needed to turn the ceasefire so desperately needed, into a lasting peace.

“Recognition of a Palestinian state has to be one of those steps. I am unequivocal about that. But it must be part of a wider plan which ultimately results in a two-state solution and lasting security for Palestinians and Israelis.”

Yesterday SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said his party would introduce a Palestine Recognition Bill, giving MPs a chance to vote on the issue, unless the prime minister follows France’s lead.

Flynn said: “Just like the Tories before them, the Labour government has failed the Palestinian people. It is shameful that Keir Starmer continues to give arms and support to the Israeli regime for its war on Palestine despite the genocide unfolding in front of our eyes, with thousands of innocent Palestinian children, women and men being deliberately bombed, shot and starved to death.

“Unless Keir Starmer stops blocking UK recognition of Palestine, the SNP will introduce a Palestine Recognition Bill when parliament returns in September – and force a vote if necessary. We will pile pressure on Keir Starmer to use every lever to ensure Israel ends its genocidal assault on Palestine and accepts a two-state solution.”

Trump, who arrived in Scotland on Friday and was filmed playing golf at Turnberry over the weekend, last night agreed a trade deal with the EU. The deal, reached between Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, will see a tariff of 15 per cent placed on all EU goods imported into the US.

First Minister John Swinney is also expected to meet Trump before the US president leaves Scotland.

The first minister said he would raise humanitarian issues such as the crisis in Gaza in the war in Ukraine.

He said: “It is of utmost importance that we discuss what action can be taken to end the horrific suffering we are witnessing around the world, particularly the unimaginable hardship being endured by people in Gaza and the need for an urgent ceasefire.

“I also intend to raise the barbaric war in Ukraine and discuss how we can work to bring an end to the conflict that has caused so much destruction to lives and livelihoods.

“Both the US president and I share a fundamental desire to build peace across the world and to end the suffering endured by so many. I hope that our discussion helps to further that aim.”