Starmer isolated in Labour over Palestine recognition amid Gaza war

In a report, Politico wrote that the British Prime Minister is under growing pressure from within his own party over his reluctance to recognize Palestine, which has deepened his isolation in internal party circles.

According to the U.S.-based outlet, despite rising calls to formally recognize Palestine, Starmer has insisted that the time is not right, and that such a move must be part of a broader peace process. This cautious position has triggered opposition from many MPs; in fact, 221 MPs from across various parties have signed a letter urging the government to shift its approach.

The report adds that some cabinet ministers have also called on Starmer to reconsider his stance. One senior Labour MP, speaking anonymously, warned that the rift between the Prime Minister and the party’s grassroots could even undermine the UK’s diplomatic efforts to address the Gaza crisis.

"Starmer is more cautious than any other member of the party," the MP said.

Another MP described Starmer’s recent statement on the issue as “just words, not action,” adding: “I don’t think the public will accept anything less than full recognition of Palestine.”

This MP warned that the Labour Party’s image among voters could suffer serious damage if the current stance continues.

A third MP commented: “Labour is constantly falling behind. Our voters won’t forgive us.”

All three MPs agreed that Starmer has now diverged from the mood within his own party, yet continues to impose his personal viewpoint on the party’s policy direction.

According to Politico, one of the key reasons behind Starmer’s hesitation is his desire to maintain strong ties with Donald Trump, the U.S. President. Trump sharply criticized French President Emmanuel Macron last week for recognizing the State of Palestine, saying: “It doesn’t matter what he says.”

Peter Ricketts, the former UK National Security Adviser, also emphasized that Starmer is wary of damaging the UK’s relationship with the White House, especially after a year-long effort by London to rebuild relations with the U.S. under a new administration.