Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative Party leader have sharply criticized Britain’s decision to recognize Palestine as an independent state, as she calls the move “absolutely disastrous” and warned it would have lasting repercussions.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced on Sunday that the United Kingdom had formally joined more than 150 countries in recognizing Palestinian statehood. In a statement shared on X, Starmer said the decision reflected Britain’s commitment to supporting a two-state solution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
“I know the strength of feeling that this conflict provokes,” the prime minister said, framing the move as a step toward peace and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians.
But Badenoch, the leader of the opposition Conservatives, reacted with fury. Replying directly to Starmer’s post, she argued the recognition “rewards terrorism” without placing any conditions on Hamas, the militant group that governs Gaza.
“Disastrous. Absolutely disastrous. We will all rue the day this decision was made,” Badenoch wrote. “Rewarding terrorism with no conditions whatsoever leaves hostages languishing in Gaza and does nothing to stop the suffering of innocent people caught in this war.”
Badenoch accused the Labor government of prioritizing what she described as “left-wing hobby horses” over addressing core domestic issues such as the National Health Service, jobs, and immigration.
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“It is because Labor cannot fix the big problems in our society that they focus on discredited student union campaigns to appease the hard left,” she said. “They cannot fix the NHS, so they push assisted suicide. They cannot create jobs for young people, so they give them votes at 16. They cannot sort out immigration, but they will recognize Palestine instead.”
She further claimed the move would embolden Hamas and undermine Britain’s global standing, predicting “a huge mess for us to clean up” in future governments.
Britain’s recognition of Palestine comes as civilian casualties continue to mount in Gaza, where months of Israeli air strikes have followed Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack that killed 1,200 people and triggered the latest round of conflict. Palestinian health authorities say tens of thousands have been killed in Gaza, sparking global calls for a ceasefire and renewed peace talks.
Israel and the United States have opposed unilateral recognition of Palestine, arguing it risks undermining negotiations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said statehood should only follow direct talks with Israel and guarantees for its security.
