Coffee House Shots Should Britain recognise Palestine?
Sep 20, 2025
Michael Stephens, a researcher at RUSI, and Gabriel Pogrund, a journalist at The Sunday Times, delve into the UK’s potential recognition of Palestine. They explore the implications of this decision, analyzing whether it’s rooted in principle or political pressure within the Labour Party. The conversation highlights the backlash from the US and the growing tensions between UK domestic politics and its international standing, particularly with allies in the Middle East. The dynamics of Starmer’s strategy reveal challenges he faces both at home and abroad.
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Rhetoric Versus Reality
- Recognition of Palestine mainly changes rhetoric rather than the situation on the ground.
- Most G7 countries have avoided recognition until now, making this a notable rhetorical shift.
Domestic Pressure Shapes Policy
- Starmer's move risks being driven by internal Labour pressures rather than strategic calculation.
- That raises doubts about its medium- and long-term effectiveness for either side.
Facts Have Changed Politics
- The political facts since Oct 7 have shifted Starmer's calculus on Israel-Palestine.
- Recognition signals Labour acknowledging changed domestic and moral pressures, though it may please no one.
