What does the pledge mean?

Palestine is currently designated by the United Nations (UN) as a “permanent observer state”, a form of non-member state, meaning it cannot vote on decisions made by the UN’s main organs and bodies, such as the General Assembly.

According to media reports, as of July 2025, some 147 UN member states formally recognised Palestinian statehood.

The UK was not included in this figure, although it does have a Consulate General in Jerusalem to assist British nationals in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

Labour’s manifesto committed to formally recognising a Palestinian state “as a contribution to a renewed peace process which results in a two-state solution”.

A “two-state solution” refers to a proposed framework to resolve the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in which a sovereign Palestinian state would be established alongside Israel. Previous efforts at a peace process did not result in a sovereign Palestinian state.

UK governments have long been in favour of a two-state solution as well as recognising a Palestinian state as part of a process towards that goal. All members of the G7 group of countries have pledged support for a two-state solution, as has the EU and China.

Labour’s manifesto did not spell out the conditions which would need to be met for the government to consider recognition of a Palestinian state as a “contribution” to a renewed two-state peace process, or at what stage it would occur.

What progress has been made?

In September 2025, the UK government formally recognised a Palestinian state. So we are now rating this pledge as “achieved”, although it is worth noting that it remains contested to what extent this move will contribute to any renewed peace process towards a two-state solution.

In a statement on 21 September, the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the formal recognition of the State of Palestine was to “revive the hope of peace and a two state solution”.

The government also said that recognition “is not enough to change the situation on the ground on its own”, but added that it was an “urgent” part of international efforts with allies to address “the foundations of a two-state solution”. (Canada, Australia and Portugal all also formally recognised the state of Palestine on the same day as the UK).

The decision means the UK government now “recognises Palestinian statehood over provisional borders, based on 1967 lines with equal land swaps, to be finalised as part of future negotiations”, said the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

The Israeli government criticised the UK government’s recognition of Palestine, saying it “rewards the biggest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust” and “undermines the chances of achieving a peaceful solution in the future”.

However, Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas said recognition was “an important and necessary step toward achieving a just and lasting peace in accordance with international legitimacy”.