Scotland, Wales and N Ireland party leaders unite to criticise Starmer over Israel-Gaza stance

Party leaders in the UK's devolved nations have called on Sir Keir Starmer to impose immediate sanctions on Israel and said waiting until September to recognise a Palestinian state is "far too late".

The leaders and senior politicians from parties in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales said they are "united in our deep concern and opposition to your government's ongoing support for the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza".

In a letter sent to Sir Keir on Monday, they urged him to recall parliament so MPs could vote to impose "immediate sanctions" on Israel and to "immediately end all arms sales" to the country.

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Claire Hanna, SDLP leader, Sinn Fein's vice president Michelle O'Neill, Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader and Rhun ap Iorwerth, Plaid Cymru's leader in Wales, are among the politicians to have signed the letter, in an unusual joint agreement.

They also called on the PM to support a ceasefire and "meaningful diplomatic intervention" to protect civilians and secure a just, lasting peace, and to back an independent, international investigation into alleged war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

The group of leaders urged him to use the UK's diplomatic influence to press for the "unimpeded" delivery of food, water, medicine and humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.

They called Hamas' killing of about 1,200 people in Israel and taking more than 250 hostages on 7 October 2023 "indefensible" and said they support all "legitimate diplomatic" efforts to secure their safe and unconditional return.

However, they criticised Sir Keir for saying his government will recognise Palestine as a state in September, unless Israel takes "substantive steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza".

"Given the urgency of the crisis, this is far too late," they wrote.

"Every day of delay means more children starve, more families are torn apart, and more lives are lost.

"You must act now. The UK cannot be complicit in prolonging this tragedy."

The group said as a signatory to the Genocide Convention, the UK has a binding obligation to prevent acts that may amount to genocide and ensure accountability.

They warned that continued "political, diplomatic and military support" to a government accused of committing such acts risks placing the UK in breach of its international legal duties.

The politicians "unequivocally" condemned the recent killing of Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza.

They also criticised the government's attempts to "restrict, criminalise or delegitimise" peaceful protest against government policy in Gaza, after hundreds of people supporting the recently proscribed group Palestine Action were arrested earlier in August.

Other signatories of the letter are:

Matthew O'Toole, SDLP opposition leader in the NI AssemblyNaomi Long, Northern Ireland's Alliance Party leaderGerry Carroll, Northern Ireland's People Before Profit party leaderStuart McMillan, convener of the Holyrood SNP GroupLorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish GreensAlistair Carmichael, Scottish Lib Dems

Christine Jardine, Scottish Lib Dems