Recognition of Palestinian statehood as part of any Middle East peace process is a Labour manifesto pledge, Sir Keir Starmer confirmed as party figures signed off on the final policy document.
The Labour leader suggested that such a move should not be blocked by a neighbouring country, saying it was an “inalienable right” of Palestinians and not in “the gift of Israel”.
It came as shadow ministers, union representatives, MPs and members arrived on Friday at the party’s secretive Clause V meeting, where they set the seal on Labour’s election manifesto in the afternoon.
During a campaign visit before heading to the closed-doors gathering, Sir Keir said: “That needs to be part of the process, it’s very important we have a viable Palestinian state alongside a safe and secure Israel.”
Asked whether this will be in the manifesto, he told the BBC: “It will be.”
The move comes after the party faced setbacks in the local elections in some previously safe areas, particularly those with large Muslim populations, where candidates may have suffered as a result of Sir Keir’s stance on the Gaza war.
It is likely to anger the Israeli government, which reacted with fury when Ireland, Spain and Norway moved to recognise Palestinian statehood last month.
The finer points of Labour’s document have been kept tightly under wraps after 2017’s draft manifesto was leaked, with attendees of the party’s Clause V meeting only told its central London location this morning.
The gathering takes its name from the fifth clause of the party rulebook, which seeks to ensure members, affiliated organisations and elected representatives are all able to take part in policy formulation.
Party sources described the meeting as “positive” and said the manifesto had been waived through by attendees following speculation that there could be union pressure to strengthen some of its workers’ rights measures.
A Labour spokesperson said: “Today’s meeting has endorsed Labour’s manifesto.
“On July 4, the British people will have the chance to vote for change – to stop the chaos, turn the page and start to rebuild our country.”
The manifesto will be based on the party’s five missions for government announced last year on the economy, the NHS, energy, education and planning reform.
Party pledges include the creation of GB Energy, a publicly owned green power company, 40,000 more NHS appointments a week and the recruitment of 6,500 new teachers to plug gaps in the workforce.
It is understood Sir Keir’s party has also moved to pledge measures cracking down on companies that refuse to comply with its plans for training British workers.
Individual firms could be blocked from sponsoring work visas if the employer was deemed to not be doing enough to carry out domestic training in key sectors such as care and construction under the expected proposals.
The manifesto is expected to be officially launched on June 13 ahead of the General Election on July 4.
