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| Commons debating Palestine statehood recognition | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| MPs are debating whether the UK should recognise Palestine as a state. | |
| Labour MP Grahame Morris is presenting the motion, which has the backing of the Labour shadow cabinet, on Monday. | Labour MP Grahame Morris is presenting the motion, which has the backing of the Labour shadow cabinet, on Monday. |
| The vote, in which Conservative and Liberal Democrat ministers are set to abstain, is symbolic and would not change government policy but could have international implications. | |
| In 2012 the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade the Palestinians' status to that of "non-member observer state". | In 2012 the UN General Assembly voted to upgrade the Palestinians' status to that of "non-member observer state". |
| The assembly voted 138 to nine in favour, with 41 nations - including the UK - abstaining. | The assembly voted 138 to nine in favour, with 41 nations - including the UK - abstaining. |
| Amendment | Amendment |
| Current UK government policy, as set out by former Foreign Secretary William Hague, is that it "reserves the right to recognise a Palestinian state bilaterally at the moment of our choosing and when it can best help bring about peace". | Current UK government policy, as set out by former Foreign Secretary William Hague, is that it "reserves the right to recognise a Palestinian state bilaterally at the moment of our choosing and when it can best help bring about peace". |
| Mr Morris's motion states that "this House believes that the government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel". | Mr Morris's motion states that "this House believes that the government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel". |
| Conservative ministers will abstain, with the prime minister's official spokesman saying: "The government's position is very clear and hasn't changed, so I think that is a very clear indication of the British government's approach. | |
| "The government's approach is a long-standing one and is in support of a two-state solution and we will continue to work with a range of international partners - Israel, the Palestinian Authority - in support of that." | "The government's approach is a long-standing one and is in support of a two-state solution and we will continue to work with a range of international partners - Israel, the Palestinian Authority - in support of that." |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "It is Liberal Democrat party policy to support the recognition of Palestinian statehood. This is a timely debate and there are good arguments for moving to recognise Palestine now." | |
| He added: "But it is also a backbench debate where colleagues will want to express their own views. | |
| "That is why Liberal Democrat ministers will be abstaining - in accordance with established practice that ministers don't vote on backbench motions - and backbenchers have a free vote." | |
| The BBC understands that a group of backbench MPs will attach an amendment to the motion on Monday, adding a clause with the words "as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution". | The BBC understands that a group of backbench MPs will attach an amendment to the motion on Monday, adding a clause with the words "as a contribution to securing a negotiated two-state solution". |
| The vote comes amid moves elsewhere in Europe to recognise Palestinian statehood officially, more than 100 countries having done so. | The vote comes amid moves elsewhere in Europe to recognise Palestinian statehood officially, more than 100 countries having done so. |
| Israel says moves to recognise Palestine are premature and undermine efforts to reach a peace settlement between the two sides. | Israel says moves to recognise Palestine are premature and undermine efforts to reach a peace settlement between the two sides. |
| Palestinian officials say they have been forced to pursue measures including seeking greater recognition internationally because a succession of peace talks has failed. | Palestinian officials say they have been forced to pursue measures including seeking greater recognition internationally because a succession of peace talks has failed. |
| Labour has twice called on the government - in 2011 and 2012 - to back Palestine's request for official state recognition at the UN. | Labour has twice called on the government - in 2011 and 2012 - to back Palestine's request for official state recognition at the UN. |