Commons Chamber

Tuesday 20th May 2025

(began 3 hours, 53 minutes ago)

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Torsten Bell Portrait Torsten Bell MP, The Parliamentary Secretary, HM Treasury (Swansea West, Labour)
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A few weeks ago I held a roundtable in my constituency with hospitality businesses, hotels, night-time economy businesses and pubs. It was just after the first national insurance rise payment which means those businesses were which means those businesses were devastated and have fewer jobs and apprentices and less investment. apprentices and less investment. Will the Chancellor be raising taxes Will the Chancellor be raising taxes again in coming months? Can the Chancellor assure these businesses they will not be coming back for more? more? The Secretary is welcoming deals done yesterday and are worried about the Conservative Party which cannot welcome a single trade deal with any country around the world and the party of Robert Peel has turned its

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back on the entire world. The Hot Sun in Haywards Heath and

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The Hot Sun in Haywards Heath and

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The Hot Sun in Haywards Heath and the Brickworks are microbreweries serving constituencies in Sussex. Given the pressure of national insurance and business rates, but is the Treasury doing to support these innovative businesses?

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innovative businesses? I think everybody in this House enjoys the proliferation of enjoys the proliferation of microbreweries and that is why the government is supporting draft beer and cider and knocking one pence of and cider and knocking one pence of the price of a pint because it is important to support pubs and the brewers which produced the content brewers which produced the content that is sold in them. that is sold in them. The previous adviser of Labour says it is tougher for the economy today that it was during the pandemic but that it was during the pandemic but the Chancellor is ignoring the advice and pushing ahead with measures which have been called the death sentence for pubs, bars, clubs.

Can the Minister and clubs. Can the Minister and Chancellor not see that the future of the infancy is fatally undermined by the anti-growth taxation? Three what is anti-growth is the party opposite which sat over 15 long opposite which sat over 15 long years of decline, unprecedented economic stagnation. Our job is to support the industry more generally and we are reducing red tape for the cross-government task force are cross-government task force are living away from the year by your chaotic system put in place by the party opposite and engaging with the hospitality sector all the time.
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Keir Starmer Portrait Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)
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who are most vulnerable? At the budget last year we increased the rate of tax on non- doms, increase capital gains tax, increased carried interest on bonuses and we introduced VAT on bonuses and we introduced VAT on private schools. This government is ensuring that the wealthiest pay their fair share because that is a basic labour principle.

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We will let the Front Benchers

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We now come to the statement We now come to the statement from the Prime Minister, EU trade oral statement. With permission, I would like to

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With permission, I would like to update the House on the three recent update the House on the three recent trade deals we have struck in the national interest. But first, I would like to do something about the horrific situation in Gaza. Where horrific situation in Gaza. Where the level of suffering, innocent children being bombed again, is children being bombed again, is utterly intolerable. Over the weekend, we coordinated a response weekend, we coordinated a response with our allies, as set out in my statement with President Macron, and Prime Minister Carney last night.

I Prime Minister Carney last night. I want to put on record today that we are horrified with the escalation from Israel. We repeat our demand for a ceasefire is the only way to for a ceasefire is the only way to free the hostages. We repeat our opposition to settlements in the West Bank and we repeat our demand to massively scale up humanitarian assistance into Gaza. The recent announcement that Israel will allow a basic quantity of food into Gaza, the basic quantity, is totally and utterly inadequate.

So we must coordinate our response because this what has gone on for far too long. We cannot allow the people of Gaza to staff and the Foreign Secretary will come to the House shortly to set out our response in detail. Let me turn to the three deals the government has struck. The principles we took to the negotiations are clear and simple. Does it drive down bills? Does it drive up jobs? Does it strengthen our borders? In each case, the answer is resoundingly, yes! These deals releases from the tired arguments of the past, and as an independent, sovereign nation, allow us to seize the opportunities of the future.

The message across the globe that Britain is back on the world stage. Trade deal with the world's fastest-growing economy, India. Cutting tariffs for British industries, huge boost for our whiskey engine distilleries, their whiskey engine distilleries, their only concern now is whether they can produce enough to sell. And for car manufacturers, tariffs/from over 100 percent to just 10 percent. No concessions on visas. Trade deal with the world's richest economy, the United States. Slashing tariffs, saving thousands upon thousands of jobs in car manufacturing, in places like JL R.

Protecting steel and aluminium exports and safeguarding interest for hugely important pharmaceutical sector. But I can already see that when it comes to this hat-trick of deals, it is our new partnership with the EU that they most want to talk about. Given their abject failure to strike a deal with India or the US, I cannot say I blame them. Let me spell out the benefits of this deal which gives our country an unprecedented level of access to the EU market.

The best access of any nation outside the EU or after. I will start with our security. When Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine over three years ago now, the gauntlet was thrown down and it was our responsibility to step up. This is what the world demands and what the partnership delivers. Strengthening national security, through our new security and defence partnership. That paves the way for British defence firms to access the EU's 150 euros billion defence fund.

That will support British jobs, British wages, British livelihoods. The partnership also increases cooperation on emissions trading, saving UK businesses from having to pay up to £800 million of EU carbon Once again backing British businesses. The deal will drive down bills with increased cooperation on energy, because the agreement negotiated by the party opposite left us with a more expensive way of working with our neighbours. It is structure despite our grids being connected by undersea's -- a needless rupture despite our grids being connected by undersea cables.

It also strengthens borders. The previous deal left a huge gap, we can our ability to work together to tackle labour migration. The ultimate challenge. This partnership closes that gap, including joint work on returns, preventing Channel crossings and working upstream in key source and transit countries. Cooperating with the whole migration route to strengthen our hand. It helps law-enforcement, combating terrorist and serious or. With agencies like Europol, and better sharing of intelligence and data. including facial recognition.

It helps British holidaymakers because they will be able to use E gates when they travel to Europe, ending the queues to passport control. And it helps young people, we are on a path towards a controlled youth experienced scheme with firm capital numbers and visa controls. The relationship we had with so many countries around the world, some set up by the party opposite. We should be proud to give our young people that opportunity. Not for the first time, this government has delivered for Britain's steel industry.

Protecting hours -- our steel exports from EU tariffs, backing the steel sector to the hilt. We have a new deal, as promised in our manifesto, that will cut the price of the weekly shop, more money in the pockets of working people, less red tape for exporters. No more lorry drivers queueing for 16 hours at the border with rotting food in the back. No more needless cheques, because of the consequence of their policies that made it so much harder to trade, even within our own market between Great Britain and Northern That means that British goods have been of the menu in Europe can regain their true place including shellfish which are hugely important in Devon and Cornwall.

The deal on fish provides stability with no limit to the amount EU vessels can catch in British waters but also slashes redtape for the export market. We sell 70% of our see fit into that market. It's an opportunity and British victories will look to export. The reaction to the deal from business has been absolutely clear. I don't have time to run through the list of supportive quotations from businesses. Alright. But this new partnership has been backed by the Federation of Small Businesses, the CBI, British Retail Consortium, Asda, Morrisons, Simon Scotland, Food and Drink Foundation, Ryanair.

-- Salmon. On it goes. I wonder if this will temper the reaction of the Leader of the Opposition. For weeks, she has been dismissive of the benefits of any trade deal and that has been in defiance, frankly, of her party's history. The Member for Clapton is not here, the member for Kingston, and they have both shown in their own way that if the whole approach to allies is about striking a pose, you cannot strike a deal.

What that means in a world like ours, where deals are ever more the currency of security and justice, is you do not get to make a difference and you do not get to deliver for Britain. That is what this partnership means. For years, we were told it could not be done. What they meant was that they could not do it. We were told a deal with the US or India was impossible. What they meant was it was impossible for them.

We were told a choice must be made between the US and EU. What they meant was that they could not do a deal with. This government can and will. We stay in the room, fight for the national interest, and put the British people first. That is the British people first. That is what these deals represent, a signal we are back on the world stage, a global champion of free trade, global champion of free trade, global champion of free trade, playing has to -- a historic role on European security.

We are putting money back in the pockets of money back in the pockets of ordinary people and that is what independent sovereign nations do and I commend this statement to the House. House.
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Kemi Badenoch Portrait Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP (North West Essex, Conservative)
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When Labour negotiates, Britain loses. He talks about a hat-trick of deals but they are own goals. In 2020, the Conservatives concluded the Trading And Cooperation Agreement which is the largest and most comprehensive trade agreement in the world. We agreed to come back to improve terms in five years. This renegotiation should have been the opportunity to improve terms for our country. The terms are improved for the EU. The Prime Minister can dress it up as much as he wants but he has failed.

It is bad for bills, jobs, borders. This is not a deal made for written but the deal made for Labour's PR to show them on the world stage but it is a stitch up world stage but it is a stitch up for our country, in favour of short-term headlines for them. Let's look at the abject failure is not the Prime Minister one by one. On fishing, he has given away the prize most desired by EU states and done so far almost nothing.

It is easy to sign deals if you are prepared to give everything away for pennies. This deal locks out our fishermen until 2038 and we are in a worse position than the Faroe Islands and a set of islands with the population of Scarborough and they get to have negotiations. The Prime Minister does not normally listen to them but he left one out. The National Federation of Fishermen Is Organisations who described the deal as a surrender and a giveaway.

This Prime Minister would pay to give away the family silver. Why is he selling them out? Is it because they do not vote Labour? On food and agriculture, the Prime Minister will pay the EU to abide by laws that we have no say in for British farmers struggle with the tax imposed on them and their regulations will now be made in Paris and enforced in Brussels. It is total capitulation. We are not in the EU, not at the table.

Can the Prime Minister tell us how he will ensure accountability for the regulations he has signed the country up to? On energy, the Prime Minister has shuttled us to the emissions trading scheme. This means the government can no longer cut energy costs without the permission of the EU. It will also unravel part of the India FTA he has negotiated. It is not a technicality. It is a betrayal. This means higher bills, more pain, less flexibility. On his own manifesto promises, the Prime Minister said we would not rejoin the single market.

He promised no new payments and that he would protect British interests. The promise has lasted for about as long as is to protect winter fuel allowance for pensioners. -- His promise. He said whatever is needed to empower and now he will say whatever is required to keep it, even if it means selling out our sovereignty, as this is, the public. The truth is most of what was announced yesterday was not a deal and there was no binding agreement or anything.

Most of the outlined items are agreements to enter into further discussions that we are already having. The Prime Minister is boasting we will avoid queues at the airport with access to EU e- gates and it sounds good but it is not true. Each country still has to agree. That sums up this deal perfectly and it is a lot of spin to disguise the terrible substance. Having previously ruled out a youth mobility scheme, the Prime Minister is trying to hide the latest U-turn by rebranding it as an experience.

We have no details on any cap, any time limit, and that begs the question, why is the government talking about increasing migration before it has got a gap on the small boats are Illegal Migration Act system? I know the Prime Minister does not like answering questions that people want to know if we can have some honesty about what has been discussed? How many young European workers does he think would be acceptable and will they be able to bring dependents? It is hopelessly one-sided.

We are making payments but they are offering dialogue and consultation. This is a pitiful return for the country which leaves NATO in Europe with troops on leaves NATO in Europe with troops on the ground in Estonia, defending our allies. Can be Prime Minister Kallas why there is not a single word in the statement about the money we will be sending to Brussels? Can he set out how much the payments will cost the taxpayer? Details matter in government and so does honesty.

They are laughing but this is a bad deal for the country. Look at them. This is how they laughed at the budget. They have no idea what they signed up to. He said he would stay out of the single market but is going in for agrifood, electricity, energy. for agrifood, electricity, energy. He said he would stay out of the customs union but is accepting EU tariffs. How will they stop them tariffs. How will they stop them changing them to our disadvantage? He has no idea.

The British people He has no idea. The British people will know when they are being misled. They know that the headlines misled. They know that the headlines fail. He has not been listening on the jobs tax, the family farms tax, and the damage is clear and the consequences will be huge. He is trumpeting his success and he will trumpeting his success and he will dismiss and distract but we know the truth, it was a fiction of a speech, truth, it was a fiction of a speech, a fraud of a deal and a failure of a Prime Minister.

Prime Minister. Prime Minister.
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Keir Starmer Portrait Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)
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Oh dear. That was not a serious response. She says the details matter and government but they matter in Opposition as well. The SPF agreement cut red tape and issues for all food entering the UK and that is a massive boost. Why have all these supermarkets come out behind this, because they know that the agreement is in our favour and there is a huge amount of detail there. The best agreement. On defence and security, greater operational coordination and she is against it at a time like this.

It opens the gates to the EU Defence Procurement Fund of 150 euros billion and that was a condition. She complains about admissions. Businesses were going to pay £800 million per year in tariffs that they will not now and that is why they are coming out in support. That is how much the detail matters. We are already connected with energy and are not using that connection. Electrical access to the market. Steel, getting rid of the tariffs and she is against it, yet again.

And she says the e-gates are already in existence and this clears the way for them everywhere and if any of them dated, travel through barter and see the queues. An cooperation with Europol and she is against it. Information sharing, facial mapping, dealing with records, she is against it. It is not serious. She is also against the India deal. Huge things for trades like whisky and the only concern is if they can produce you. They have been clear about supporting the India deal which they tried to do and she now says she is against it.

The US deal, which saved thousands upon thousands of jobs in car manufacturing and JLR - I do not know if she got the chance to do the trip but she ought to before she speaks at it again. The tariffs on steel so it can be sold to America and she is against it and we also support our whisky and gin. She is against every single deal and this the ex-trade secretary and is against every deal. This deal has been welcomed because it is a good deal.

You do not get a long list of endorsements from the business associations and all of these companies. They are not serious. They are lost. They are lost into a descent into the abyss. They used to be a proud party of trading agreements. They have slid off into the abyss. That is where they are. One fishing, none of the rates negotiated by the party opposite had been removed, none. No change to access to coastal communities, the same as before.

No reduction in the quota or the EU quota, the same as before, as with the reciprocal agreement. What is new is the SPS agreement. For the first time and permanent, which they could not do, and reopens the market for shellfish and makes it easier to sell British fish to the largest trading partner. That is hugely significant. 72% of British fish is threaded into EU markets and it is easier to do that and we are backing that with £360 million for fishing and coastal deals.

It is a capped scheme which is time-limited and it is balanced. On relations to standards, the truth is this, we are currently aligned in our standards. We just don't get the benefit of it. We want to continue to have size standards and that is what the British public want and what the deal delivers. We will have a role in shaping any future rules and the application is subject to and the application is subject to constitutional arrangements. We will have a process of the Parliament to apply the rules.

Let's be clear, we apply the rules. Let's be clear, we are applying those rules at the moment but not getting the advantage and this strips that away and it is good for the country, the economy. good for the country, the economy. It is a shame she cannot stand up It is a shame she cannot stand up It is a shame she cannot stand up
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Ed Davey Portrait Rt Hon Ed Davey MP (Kingston and Surbiton, Liberal Democrat)
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Can I associate myself with the Remarks about the appalling situation in Gaza? When he is working with colleagues to put pressure on Netanyahu, will he consider, with the friend, formal recognition of the State of Palestine? We do not think the EU deal goes far enough to fix our broken relationship with Europe but there are many parts we do welcome. We have long been arguing for an agri-food deal to help British farmers export to Europe. We have argued for a youth mobility scheme to give young people incredible new opportunities and British businesses, especially in hospitality, a boost.

We have argued for closer alliances in defence in the face of Putin's imperialism and from's unpredictability. Can I welcome the progress on these issues even if it is only limited progress on things like youth mobility. We have all seen the terrible damage caused by the conservative's Brexit deal. Hearing the Conservative leader complained today is like listening to a back seat driver who previously crashed the car. Our country has moved on from the divisive Brexit was of a decade ago and some members of this House need to do the same.

Does the Prime Minister accept that this deal must be only the first step? And we must be far more ambitious in strengthening our economic and security ties with our nearest security ties with our nearest neighbours? We believe a bespoke customs union is a key part of that. Not turning back to the past but forming a new partnership that forming a new partnership that forming a new partnership that serves our national interest. I know the Minister wants me that a red the Minister wants me that a red line but he will accept that the world has changed since then.

When he opened negotiations on a customs he opened negotiations on a customs union to get a better deal for Britain? A trade deal to dwarf all other trade deals?
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Keir Starmer Portrait Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)
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fact that 17.5 million people voted leave. And they voted to take back control of our laws and to stop paying money to the EU. That was a considerably larger vote than the 9.7 million who voted Labour at the last election. Now he's submitting to EU regulations without any control and he is giving money, starting to pay money back to the EU. Giving up control over our laws and restoring payments to the EU. He will pay a bitter political price

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for this betrayal. He knows full well that we have a

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He knows full well that we have a red line about not rejoining the EU, no single market, no customs union, no single market, no customs union, no freedom of movement. We were told it was impossible to negotiate a better deal with the EU with those better deal with the EU with those red lines, we have done it. We've shown we are outside the EU because shown we are outside the EU because he will appreciate that having a deal with the US and India is inconsistent with membership of the EU.

There could be no better evidence we are not going back into evidence we are not going back into the EU. I know he understands that the EU. I know he understands that well. I'm surprised at the way he puts his question. As for control on orders, it went from quadrupling net migration after exit to nearly one migration after exit to nearly one million. That was not controlling our borders, complete lack of control on the other side. On the question of payments, it is important to appreciate we have achieved unprecedented access to EU markets without the budgetary
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Keir Starmer Portrait Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)
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benefits of these deals measured in jobs which will be saved and it is important for our economy that we

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important for our economy that we have got these deals and that is in the interest of his constituents and the whole country. When it comes to evaluating the

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When it comes to evaluating the

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When it comes to evaluating the merits of the deal, who with the Prime Minister suggest constituents listen to, the Scottish Chamber of listen to, the Scottish Chamber of Commerce, Scottish Salmon, or John Swinney and the honourable member who are desperate to try to create a deal which has been called important progress by the Deputy first Minister. I was surprised to see the Minister. I was surprised to see the SNP first Minister leading up with SNP first Minister leading up with four and the Leader of the Opposition against the deal which has been welcomed by Scottish Salmon and they know what is good for their business and that is a small and business and that is a small and miserable club for the SNP to be in.

 If the Prime Minister is right and fit standards are already in alignment with those with the EU, why could we not have negotiated the deal on the basis of mutual recognition of those standards as other countries have done, rather than open ourselves up to having to alter standards in line with alter standards in line with whatever the EU may decide to change in the future? in the future?
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Keir Starmer Portrait Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)
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deal with it. Can I congratulate my right honourable friend on securing this deal? Was the agreement with me that deal? Was the agreement with me that the attitude displayed by the party opposite betrays a fundamental dislike and mistrust in all things European? Which makes them totally inadequate for accepting any sort of deal whatsoever with the EU. And cant confirm that no matter where you do an international radio, whether it is through Europe, there is always an arbitration system whether it is this deal or any I thank him for his question.

I do not think it is just all things European because they say they are against the India deal as well. This is a deal they try for it long as negotiate. It is deeply embarrassing for them to say that is what they for them to say that is what they are trying to negotiate and now they are against the deal with the US on which they said they wanted to negotiate with saves thousands and thousands of jobs. They go to GLR until than those words because you could reverse that deal and look at could reverse that deal and look at the expressions on their faces full the expressions on their faces full so it is further evidence of the decline of the Tory party, not just for free trade.

I never thought I would say that, but we are seeing it now under the Leader of the now under the Leader of the Opposition and he is right about arbitration clauses, they are there in every tree deal that has about been struck. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I do not want to be a dog in the manger, but the Prime Minister's statement appears to me to be strong on self- congratulation and very short on detail. I know he does not like answered detailed questions, but the response he gave to my right honourable friend the member was quite simply unacceptable.

When will this be signed off and informed that this House will be able to debate properly in the voting?
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Keir Starmer Portrait Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)
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yesterday. It is not quite the step change that we need, but it is a step forward towards the closest possible relationships with our closest neighbours that we continue to champion, although I would point out that it is hardly unprecedented, because of course a till we left the EU we had a much better relationship. Can I ask the pro- minister though given that free movement of people in addition to youth services is such an important component of growth and also of building good relationships, why is he being so timid on the youth mobility scheme? Given the huge benefits that this would offer to young people and the country as a whole?

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We had a clear red line in our manifesto. We did that because we manifesto. We did that because we had a referendum and at the heart of that referendum one of the key issues was freedom of movement. issues was freedom of movement. Everyone who made their case, the Everyone who made their case, the country voted to leave, we respect that. That is why we put the redlining. What we have now negotiated is a scheme that does not negotiated is a scheme that does not cross our red lines and is good for young people both here and in

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Europe. Thank you, Mr Speaker. I would like to turn to the cooperation aspect of this agreement which I aspect of this agreement which I congratulate the Prime Minister for. When I was an international liaison prosecutor, my colleagues and diet prosecutor, my colleagues and diet the CPS were relieved when the Trade and Cooperation Agreement was finally agreed. Does the Prime Minister agree with me that this new deal enhances and improves our deal enhances and improves our ability to tackle cross-border crime, serious and organised crime, and to keep the people of the UK safe?

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And I thank her for her previous work is not one of the important things I was able to do what I was things I was able to do what I was chief prosecutor was to play a role. Madam Deputy Speaker, I apologise, before we left the EU we could play before we left the EU we could play a full part that meant we shared
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Keir Starmer Portrait Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, The Prime Minister (Holborn and St Pancras, Labour)
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so. It is important we get on with this as quickly as we can. Ursula von der Leyen yesterday

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Ursula von der Leyen yesterday said a second step further negotiations would be required before British firms would be eligible to compete for joint eligible to compete for joint procurement aligned to the security fund. The primary suspect warmly about the industry response but the CEO said it was somewhat underwhelming with lack of detail. What is the detail all the areas that need further negotiations for British firms to have the possibility to have access to the same client let alone the creation of thousands of jobs? The first thing is to get through the first gateway.

The second thing, this is the fund setting up at the moment, the fund setting up at the moment, is to then negotiate our way into the scheme. It was always that two- stage process. The scheme has not been in existence for very long, so been in existence for very long, so along with our partners, we will move at pace. Thank you Madam Deputy Speaker. Businesses welcome this still. Our university centre is the second university centre is the second largest export.

Can the Prime Minister the same or about how this will benefit higher education not will benefit higher education not least in our research space but in being able to attract the very best into our country? into our country?
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None Portrait Ministerial statement: Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories
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will be occasional instances,

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Order. Right honourable members have had the opportunity to get the point on the record. We have had in
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David Lammy Portrait Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Tottenham, Labour)
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point on the record. We have had in excess of an hour and 1/2 of the statement from the Prime Minister. I think we should move on. Allow the Which Which brings Which brings us Which brings us to Which brings us to the Which brings us to the next Which brings us to the next business statement from the Foreign Secretary on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

**** Possible New Speaker ****

With permission I will make a statement on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories. This weekend, the Israeli Defense Forces started a new extensive ground started a new extensive ground operation throughout Gaza, Operation operation throughout Gaza, Operation Gideon's Chariot. Five divisions and operating there. Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu says they will Benjamin Netanyahu says they will take control, letting only minimum amount of food reach people in Gaza. Madame Deputy Speaker, I quote Mr Madame Deputy Speaker, I quote Mr Netanyahu.

" Just enough to prevent Netanyahu. " Just enough to prevent hunger. " Fewer than 10 trucks hunger. " Fewer than 10 trucks entered Gaza yesterday. The UN and the World Health Organization have issued a stark warnings of the threat of starvation hanging over hundreds of thousands of civilians. Madame Deputy Speaker, this is abominable. Civilians in Gaza facing starvation, homelessness, trauma, desperate for this war to end. Now confront renewed bombardment, new displacement, and new suffering.

And the remaining hostages, kept apart from their loved ones by Hamas almost 600 days, are now at heightened risk from the war around The ceasefire collapsed two months ago. Since then, the humanitarian catastrophe has rapidly intensified. For 11 weeks, Israeli forces have blockaded Gaza, leaving the World Food Programme without any remaining stocks. Israel has repeatedly struck hospitals with three more hospitals in northern Gaza ceasing operations with the UK, yet more aid workers and medical workers have been killed.

After last year proved the deadliest year on record for humanitarian personnel, the diplomatic deadlock between Israel and hummus has sadly also hardened. Despite the efforts of the United States, Qatar, and Egypt. Which we, of course, support. No ceasefire has emerged. We repeat our demand that her mass release all the hostages and reiterate that they cannot continue to run Gaza. We are now entering a dark new phase in this conflict. Netanyahu's Government is planning to drive Gazans from their homes into a corner to the south and omit a fraction of the aid that they need.

Yesterday the Minister even spoke of Israeli forces cleansing spoke of Israeli forces cleansing Gaza. Destroying what is left of residents, Palestinians being relocated, he said, to third countries. We must call this what it is. It is extremism, it is dangerous, it is monstrous, and I condemn it in the strongest possible terms. Israel suffered a heinous attack and the Government has always backed Israel's right to defend itself. We have condemned her mass and it is apparent to the hostages and we have stood with families and demanded them their loved ones be released.

It is morally unjustifiable, it is wholly disproportionate, it is utterly counter-productive. Whatever is really Ministers claim it is not the way to bring the hostages safe home. Nearly all the hostages have been freed through negotiations, not through thoughts, and that is why hostage families themselves and many hostage families themselves and many others oppose this plan so strongly. Nor will the plan eliminate her mass or make Israel secure. This war has left a generation bereft and traumatised, ready for her mass to recruit as we learned in Northern Ireland to defeat tariffs and their warped ideology with their military mind.

They have to offer a viable alternative opposing the expansion of the war has killed thousands of children is not rewarding her mass. Since entering office we have taken action in Gaza. We restore funding, we supported the independence in we supported the independence in international courts. We suspended arms export licences, we provided food and medical care to hundreds and thousands of Gazans. We have worked with our partners on a plan to ensure a reconstructed Gaza no longer run by her mass.

And since Israel restarted strikes in Gaza, this Government has demanded Israel change course. Privately, my conversations with the foreign minister strategic affairs Minister publicly and repeated joint statements with my French and German counterparts we have made clear that Israel's actions are intolerable. We have raised our concerns in UN Security Council's and before the International Court of Justice. Yesterday, the right honourable friend the Prime Minister joined leaders from France and Canada, strongly opposing the expansion of Israel's military operations.

And the UK led a further statement with 27 partners criticising Israel's proposed new aid delivery mechanism and feeling the essential humanitarian principles of international system that the UK did so much to establish in the first place. Our message is clear. There is a UN plan ready to deliver aid at is a UN plan ready to deliver aid at scale needed with mitigations against a division and there are brave humanitarians ready to do their jobs and there are over 9,000 trucks at the border and the Prime Minister Netanyahu, and this blockade now and let them in.

Regrettably, despite our efforts, the Israeli government's egregious actions the rhetoric has continued. There isolate in Israel from its friends and partners around the world, undermining the interests of the Israeli people and damaging the state of Israel in the eyes of the world. I find this deeply painful, as a lifelong friend of Israel and the belief in the values that were expressed in this declaration of Independence. As the Prime Minister said yesterday, we cannot stand by in the face of this new deterioration that is incompatible with the principles that underpin our bilateral relationship.

Rejected by members across the House and, frankly, it is an affront to the values of the British people. Therefore, today, I am announcing that we have suspended negotiations with the Israeli Government on a free trade agreement. We will be reviewing cooperation with them under the 2030 bilateral act. The Netanyahu Government actions have made this necessary. Today, my honourable friend the Minister for the Middle East is summoning the Israeli ambassadors in the Foreign Office to convey this message.

I say now to the people of Israel we want, I want, a strong friendship based on shared values. With flourishing ties between other people and societies. We are unwavering in our commitment to security to your future to counter the threat from Iran, the scope of terrorism and the evils of anti-Semitism, but the conduct of the war in Gaza is damaging our relationship with your Government, and as a minister has said, if Israel pursues this military offensive failing to ensure the upended provision of aid, we will take further action in response.

The UK will not give up on the two state solution. Israelis living in secured prominence recognise the peaks with their neighbours free from the threat of terrorism, Palestinians living in their own state, the dignity and security free of occupation. The two state solution remains the ideal framework, indeed the only framework, for just and lasting peace. But as the House knows it is very viability is in peril endangered not only by the war in Gaza but by the spread of illegal Israeli settlements and outposts across the occupied West Bank with the explicit support of this is really Government.

There are now weekly meetings to approve new settlement construction, such with approval has accelerated while the violence has slowed. Here we have acted repeatedly pressing for change in this course and direction. Sanctioning seven entities in a towbar and setting a landmark agreement to bolster support with Palestinian Authority when the Prime Minister visited London just last month. Hereto, we must do more. Here, we are therefore imposing sanctions on a further three individuals and four entities involved in the settlement.

I have seen for myself the consequences of violence, the fear and impunity of its perpetrators. Today, demonstrating again that we will continue to act against those that carry out these abuses of human rights. Despite the clamour of hope rights. Despite the clamour of hope from the January ceasefire, suffering has worsened. This showed another path was possible and we urge Netanyahu's Government to choose this path. The world is judging. History will judge them. judging. History will judge them.

Looking aid, expanding the war, dismissing the concerns of your friends and partners, this is a friends and partners, this is a friends and partners, this is a defence and it must stop. I commend this statement to the House.
14:41
Priti Patel Portrait Rt Hon Priti Patel MP (Witham, Conservative)
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Shadow Foreign Secretary, Priti Patel. Secretary for the statement. The humanitarian situation in Gaza is appalling, and we continue to see the intolerable suffering of life being lost. As a sustainable into this terrible conflict is urgently and desperately needed. That means the release of the remaining 58 hostages from the cruel hummus captivity that we have all witnessed for too long. It means a significant In to Gaza. And it means a new future for Gaza, free from the terror and misery caused by her mass who bear responsibility for the suffering we have seen unfolding since 7 October to Gaza.

And it means a new future for Gaza, free from the terror and misery caused by her mass who bear responsibility for the suffering we have seen unfolding since 7 October 2023. Now, I will take each of these in turn. First, on the hostages, can the Foreign Secretary explain what recent engagements he has had in trying to secure their release and return to their loved ones? Is Britain contributing to an overall strategy to free the hostages because are we in the room with the critical discussions because we know the hard work that went on to all of this.

Secondly, on aid. I have been asking the Government for clarity over the way it is using its influence to get aid in. On the sixth and the 14th of in. On the sixth and 14 May, we questioned the Minister for the Middle East on steps being taken to unblock aid delivery. We have asked Government for details on the engagement it was having with Israel. The response was to Israel's plans and alternative aid delivery. What practical solutions the UK has worked on with Israel to address their concerns about aid division.

And no substantive answers were given, so what has the Government been doing in recent weeks to facilitate the delivery of aid by practical solutions with other countries to get aid in? Has the Government just been criticising Israel or have they been offering to work constructively to find solutions on a delivery and secure a ceasefire? We see from the joint statement issued yesterday that the Governments of other international partners may not be supporting or participating in the aid delivery model proposed by Israel, so can the Foreign Secretary explain why that conclusion has been reached? How, if I can return to my statement, how does the nonparticipation help to get aid in Gaza? And to stop the suffering that is being experienced by everyone? And while members shake their heads, we should be all focused on securing that members opposite should be ashamed of themselves because the focus of this House should be on getting aid in Gaza.

Because the UK, actually, no, because the UK, and I can speak as someone that has supported aid getting in to Gaza and other humanitarian crises, the member opposite may want their two rather than calling me out and saying that my colleagues are shameful because the UK has consistently been a leader when it comes to world a delivery, so we should be at the forefront of finding practical solutions, supporting the delivery of aid to those in need, so has the Foreign Secretary, with the approach that he has just outlined to Israel done all that he can to support an increase in aid and has U.K.'s influence actually fallen now when it comes to this entire aid discussion? And also the dialogue we have had with Israel also third, on the future of Israel, the Government has agreed with our situation that there can be no future for her mass.

That is completely nonnegotiable. What practical steps are being taken to end this in Gaza to dismantle the terrorist infrastructure? What coordinated international steps are being taken to extend the flow of money and weapons and support bankrolled by Iran? We are still waiting the strategy coming from Government. Can the Foreign Secretary expand on this? We had the statement last month from the Foreign Secretary on the MOU with the Palestinian Authority. Can he give an update on what steps are being taken to improve the government's opinion? Because the MOU has many questions and I do not need to go over the questions I have raised them previously.

The UK obviously needs to be involved in the process given our historic role, in, for example, the Abraham accords. This may be our best shot when it comes to beach on the Foreign Secretary must convince us that we have influence when it comes to the ceasefire and negotiating a better future in this part of the world. And can I ask the Foreign Secretary what discussions have taken place with one country that does have influence and that is the United States administration when it comes to peace efforts and also I want to conclude by saying a few things.

Strong words will do little to address the challenges that have taken place in the suffering we are seeing every day. That is a matter for your governments to address. It should be a cause of concern that we have reached a situation now where statements and actions, if I may say so, that have been echoed by the government today, and by that I am referring to the Prime Minister's joint statement, and the statement an action of the government have been put out by Hamas in a statement.

I'm sure the Foreign Secretary has seen that. The Foreign Secretary's decision to tear up trade negotiations with Israel, and stop the bilateral roadmap will not, it is not shocking, these are important questions. Can I ask then, if the Foreign Secretary can't answer these questions, that's fine. Please do answer. Because they are Please do answer. Because they are important. I would if members did important. I would if members did not keep interrupting. It is quite obvious that the government does not want to respond to these important questions.

I think it is important because there is so much human suffering. I understand the points the Foreign Secretary has made with regards to steps he is taking with Israel but how is this going to help now when it comes to wider security now when it comes to wider security issues, threats from Iran, and how do we know this will not be self- defeating in any way?
14:48
David Lammy Portrait Rt Hon David Lammy MP, Foreign Secretary, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (Tottenham, Labour)
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Madam Deputy Speaker, for decades, there has been a cross- party commitment to two-state solution in pursuit of peace. Friends of both Israel and Palestinian people across this house, it was the Thatcher government that imposed an arms embargo after Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982. It was David Cameron who first called Gaza a prison camp. And it was Theresa May's government that championed UN rest on settlements. It was William Hague who worked with John Kerry on the push for peace and condemned the idea of moving the British embassy to Jerusalem.

Sadly today, it seems that the Conservative party, or at least the current Frontbench is refusing to confront the appalling reality of what is happening in Gaza and what that Netanyahu government is doing the honourable lady seems incapable of offering any serious criticism about the egregious actions by the Netanyahu government, unlike many Honourable members on her own side. I think the whole House should be able to utterly condemn the Israeli government's denial of food to hungry children. It is wrong.

It is appalling. Will she condemn it? The whole house has seen. Opposing expansion of a war that has killed thousands of children is not rewarding Hamas. Opposing the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people is not rewarding Hamas. On this side of the house we are crystal-clear what is happening is morally wrong. Unjustifiable and it needs to stop. And that is why we have taken the actions we have. She knows that hostage families are deeply concerned with what is happening, they are deeply concerned with their loved ones, she knows that.

She knows that we oppose the blockade on
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