Middle East

Florence Eshalomi Excerpts

Monday 21st July 2025 Commons Chamber

[Mr Lammy]

I cannot agree with what the right hon. Gentleman has said, save for his remarks that the hostages must be released.

[Florence Eshalomi (Vauxhall and Camberwell Green) (Lab/Co-op)]

I want to gently point out to the Foreign Secretary that the reason so many of us are here is that we have been waiting a long time for this statement. With the situation unfolding, as many colleagues have said, our constituents continue to write to us. Last week, Save the Children held a photo exhibition in Parliament in partnership with Choose Love and the photographer Misan Harriman—I should declare that he is the chair of the Southbank Centre, which is in my constituency. I want to read a clip from that exhibition. A question next to one of the pictures asked:

“If you had one superpower, what would it be and why?”

The answer of the young girl in the photo was:

“the ability to change events in order to help my country to become free and help my children live in a safe environment like the rest of the children in the world”.

We are seeing children being killed while trying to access vital food and aid. We must ask ourselves: what more can we be doing? We are seeing children malnourished and starving. I ask the Foreign Secretary: where is the real action from this Government to stop that, so that more children can live?

[Mr Lammy]

I hear the strength of my hon. Friend’s conviction and views when she asks for more action. We are taking action—we have taken action every single day in office. British taxpayers are funding the alleviation of suffering. Is it enough? Have we brought this war to an end? We have not brought it to an end. I have to tell my hon. Friend that the UK will be unable to do that unilaterally, which is why we are working with partners internationally. I have I have done that every single day in office. Me raising my voice will not bring this war to an end. I lament that and I regret that. But am I sure that the UK Government are doing everything in our power? Yes, I am.