This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgjylqlvq5xo

The article has changed 8 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
David Lammy to host US Vice President JD Vance at country residence US has no plans to recognise Palestinian state, JD Vance says
(about 2 hours later)
David Lammy (left) meets Vance regularly in his role as foreign secretary Vice-President JD Vance has said the US has no plans to recognise a Palestinian state, in a meeting with Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Foreign secretary David Lammy is to host US Vice President JD Vance at his official country residence Chevening House, in Kent, on Friday. The UK has said it will make the move in September if Israel does not meet certain conditions.
"The vice president and foreign secretary will discuss a variety of topics pertaining to the US-UK relationship," the White House said in a statement. But US President Donald Trump has not followed suit and believes that recognising Palestinian statehood would be rewarding Hamas.
Vance and his family are in the UK on a private family holiday. They are expected to spend most of their break in the Cotswolds and are also reported to be planning a visit to Hampton Court Palace. The difference in approach to the war in Gaza is among the issues being discussed by Vance and Lammy at the foreign secretary's official country residence, Chevening House, in Kent on Friday.
Speaking alongside Lammy, Vance said: "The United Kingdom is going to make its decision.
"We have no plans to recognise a Palestinian state.
"I don't know what it would mean to really recognise a Palestinian state – given the lack of a functional government there."
The vice-president said the US administration wanted to see Hamas eradicated so Israeli civilians were not attacked again, but also to solve the "humanitarian crisis" in Gaza.
Vance said while the UK and US shared focus and goals, there were "disagreements" which would be discussed at Chevening.
Lammy said he was concerned about Israel's intention to take over more of Gaza.
The foreign secretary said: "What we all want to see is a ceasefire – what we all want to see are the hostages come out.
"We are hugely concerned by the humanitarian suffering that we are seeing in Gaza particularly."
The pair are meeting for talks at the residence during Vance's family holiday to the UK.
The two men went carp fishing in a pond near the 17th century house on Friday morning. Vance said he and his children caught fish but Lammy did not.
The Vance family is expected to spend most of their break in the Cotswolds and are also reported to be planning a visit to Hampton Court Palace.
Vance and Lammy went fishing for carp at Chevening's lake before their meeting
UK foreign secretaries have traditionally had the use of Chevening, a Grade 1 listed mansion, with gardens that include a lake and a maze.UK foreign secretaries have traditionally had the use of Chevening, a Grade 1 listed mansion, with gardens that include a lake and a maze.
Chevening House dates back nearly 400 years and is set in its own grounds
Lammy and Vance have been meeting regularly on official trips since the foreign secretary started in his role last year, and they are reported to have bonded over their shared Christian faith.Lammy and Vance have been meeting regularly on official trips since the foreign secretary started in his role last year, and they are reported to have bonded over their shared Christian faith.
The foreign secretary attended mass at Vance's Washington residence on an official visit in March and is now reported to be repaying the favour by allowing his family to stay at his grace and favour mansion.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast last summer, Lammy said: "Let me just say on JD Vance that I've met him now on several occasions, we share a similar working-class backgrounds with addiction issues in our family.
"We've written books on that, we've talked about that, and we're both Christians. So I think I can find common ground with JD Vance."
Lammy got to know Vance when making an effort to make contacts among influential Republican politicians ahead of the last US presidential election so he'd be prepared if the party won the White House.
Their discussions at Chevening will focus on areas where there's significant divergence between the UK and US.
The two men have both spoken out recently about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
But the US does not support the UK's view that if Israel doesn't stop its Gaza operation, then it's time to recognise a Palestinian state.
The White House has said that would be to reward Hamas.
The other major area for discussion this weekend is Ukraine and the possibility of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss the conflict.The other major area for discussion this weekend is Ukraine and the possibility of a meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to discuss the conflict.
Lammy has insisted that "if there is no ceasefire there cannot be talks" to end Russia's war against Ukraine. Lammy has insisted there can't be talks unless there is a ceasefire to end Russia's war against Ukraine.
What Lammy, and other European nations, fear is that Putin will seek to use Trump to force terms on Ukraine without its presence at the table, and in a way that seriously undermines Europe's security.What Lammy, and other European nations, fear is that Putin will seek to use Trump to force terms on Ukraine without its presence at the table, and in a way that seriously undermines Europe's security.
Lammy and Vance are expected to hold a bilateral meeting before being joined by their families at Chevening.
The vice president's UK visit comes a few weeks after Trump travelled to Scotland, on a private visit to his golf courses.The vice president's UK visit comes a few weeks after Trump travelled to Scotland, on a private visit to his golf courses.
Trump met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as well as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, agreeing a trade deal with the bloc, and will return for a full state visit in September.Trump met Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer as well as EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, agreeing a trade deal with the bloc, and will return for a full state visit in September.
Chevening House dates back nearly 400 years and is set in its own grounds
Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.Sign up for our Politics Essential newsletter to keep up with the inner workings of Westminster and beyond.