The group of Tory MPs ahead of Starmer on Palestinian statehood

It was almost two months ago that a group of Conservative MPs wrote to Sir Keir Starmer asking him to recognise a Palestinian state.

Co-ordinated by Kit Malthouse and Mark Pritchard, the letter – which made no mention of the hostages still held in the area they want to give statehood to – read:

“It is a matter of international law, human rights, and equity. Recognition would not reward extremism; on the contrary, it would reinforce the message that violence and rejectionism, such as that pursued by Hamas, cannot and will not shape the future.”

It was signed by their Tory MP colleagues Sir Edward Leigh, father of the house, Sir Jeremy Wright, Sir Roger Gale, Sir Desmond Swayne, Simon Hoare and Martin Vickers.

“If the Government recognises a Palestinian state,” they wrote, “you will have our support”.

And support they will be providing for a proposal that puts no conditions on Hamas, does little to put a stop to the suffering of the people of Gaza, all while dismaying victims of October 7th.

As Emily Damari, one of the freed British-Israeli hostages, said of Starmer setting out Palestinian statehood:

“This move does not advance peace—it risks rewarding terror. It sends a dangerous message: that violence earns legitimacy.”

It effectively removes an incentive for Hamas to return the hostages, where – perversely – preventing a ceasefire becomes a political win for Hamas.

According to a written handout of the cabinet meeting held by Starmer, recognition of a Palestinian state would happen “unless the Israeli government takes substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza, reaches a ceasefire, makes clear there will be no annexation in the West Bank, and commits to a long-term peace process that delivers a two-state solution”.

He said that Britain’s previous conditions stand on Hamas’s release of the hostages, the cessation of hostilities and renunciation of any claim of theirs to participate in the running of a Palestinian state. But recognition of such a state does not seem reliant on Hamas’s conduct. It is an ultimatum for Israel alone.

As shadow attorney general Lord Wolfson pointed out on X:

“If a ceasefire *is* reached because Hamas releases all hostages, the UK will *not* recognise Palestine.

“But if *no* ceasefire is reached because Hamas refuses to release all hostages, the UK *will* recognise Palestine.”

For one Tory MP I spoke to, it came as little surprise that the group of their colleagues – who I’m told have garnered the nickname “Tories for Terror” by some on the other side of the debate in Parliament’s tearoom – offered their support for recognition of a Palestinian state. The lack of recognition of the hostages in their letter, the MP told me, however, was especially shocking:

“It is expected from the likes of Malthouse, but there is bafflement on Sir Edward’s position.

“It is really disgraceful that they didn’t mention the 50 hostages still kept underground in the most awful of conditions once.”

They come quite at odds with the Tory leadership’s position on Israel. Kemi Badenoch has been a steadfast supporter of Israel and said that Starmer’s approach to Palestinian statehood “set back the cause of peace to placate his backbench MPs”.

She wrote in The Times today:

“Hamas — a proscribed terrorist organisation — slaughtered innocent Israelis and brutally captured hundreds of civilians. They warned the world they would do it again and again. Fifty hostages are still held captive in Gaza and Hamas refused yet another ceasefire deal just last week. The prime minister has chosen to reward the terrorists.”

And some of the figures around her are getting “fed up” with the “antics” of the group who signed the original letter.

One senior Tory MP questions their place in the Party:

“With views like these I do wonder what they are still doing in the party. Kemi has been very clear about her views, and the wider party’s take on the issue – and it is the right one.” 

Another questions the handling by the Party “when behaviour like this is permitted”.

The argument of these letter-writing Tory MPs – clearly shared by the Labour Government – that recognition does not reward extremism, does not bear much weight I am afraid. 

Recognising Palestine at a stage when Hamas is still alive and holding innocent people hostage only encourages the belief that terrorism works.

The answer to the evil of October 7th and the devastation that has unfolded since is not in the granting of statehood, but a determination to prevent such atrocities happening again. The answer lies not in a kneejerk reaction but in pursuing an extension of the Abraham Accords – a path to genuine peace and pragmatic partnership between Israel and Arab states, which could go on to support the establishment of future Palestinian statehood. That would see Hamas defeated, not rewarded.