Labour’s David Lammy has once again found himself in hot water after making controversial remarks in the Commons, only to be rebuffed by his own Labour government.
In an extraordinary turn of events, No 10 was forced to distance itself from his claim that Israel had breached international law by restricting humanitarian aid to Gaza.
During a debate on Monday, Mr Lammy categorically declared that Israel’s blockade of aid was “a breach of international law.” However, Downing Street moved swiftly to correct the record, making it clear that the UK government’s official position remains unchanged – Israel’s actions in Gaza are at “clear risk” of breaching international humanitarian law, but the government has not made a definitive legal determination.
The Prime Minister’s spokesman was pressed on whether Mr Lammy had been speaking on behalf of the entire government, to which he responded: “I think as the Foreign Secretary said, and the CDL [Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster] said on the morning round, our position remains that Israel’s actions in Gaza are at clear risk of breaching international humanitarian law. And we continue to call on the government of Israel to abide by its international obligations when it comes to humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza.”
Asked whether Mr Lammy would issue a correction in the Commons, the spokesman declined to answer directly, instead deferring to the Foreign Office. It has since emerged that Mr Lammy has no plans to retract his statement, despite the clear rebuke from No 10.
Conservative Shadow Foreign Secretary Priti Patel Wades In
The fallout has sparked fierce criticism from Conservative figures, with Dame Priti Patel, the shadow foreign secretary, condemning Mr Lammy’s intervention. She said: “David Lammy’s absolute focus should be on securing the release of the 59 remaining hostages held by Hamas since the atrocities of October 7 2023. The release of the hostages is key to a sustainable end to this conflict and to building a better future.”
Dame Priti also took aim at Labour’s wider approach, warning: “Hamas has no respect for international law, human life or human rights. Now is the time for maximum pressure on Hamas. Labour should be clear that there is no moral equivalence between Hamas and the democratically elected government of Israel, and we must have no more poorly-judged decisions on arms exports designed to placate Labour backbenchers.”
Lammy’s Foreign Office Scrambles to Clarify Position
Even the Foreign Office appeared to walk back Mr Lammy’s remarks, with a spokesman confirming: “The Foreign Secretary’s position remains that Israel’s actions in Gaza are at clear risk of breaching international humanitarian law.” The UK has historically maintained a stance that Israel’s actions could violate international law but had refrained from an outright accusation – until Mr Lammy’s Commons statement forced an awkward government clarification.
The timing of the gaffe could not be worse for Keir Starmer, who has battled to keep his party’s stance on Israel-Gaza consistent in the face of internal divisions. Labour has shifted its position multiple times since the conflict erupted, with Starmer calling for a “cessation of hostilities” late last year.
Labour’s Internal Struggles Continue
The incident has only served to highlight Labour’s ongoing struggles to unify its position on the Israel-Gaza conflict. Back in December 2023, ten Labour MPs either quit or were sacked from the frontbench for supporting an SNP motion calling for a ceasefire. The party also suffered a significant loss of support among Muslim voters at the most recent election due to its handling of the crisis.
Starmer himself has faced mounting pressure over Labour’s foreign policy, particularly after controversially agreeing to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius on the grounds of international law compliance – a move criticised by Tory MPs and many military analysts.
Israel Resumes Strikes on Hamas as Ceasefire Talks Falter
Meanwhile, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated further. After Hamas failed to agree to further hostage releases, Israel resumed air strikes on Tuesday, killing at least 300 people in what the IDF described as “extensive strikes” targeting Hamas leadership, mid-ranking military commanders, and terrorist infrastructure.
For Mr Lammy, this latest blunder may prove yet another headache, as Labour’s foreign policy credibility is once again called into question. While he remains defiant in his stance, Downing Street’s swift intervention suggests that not everyone in government shares his views – and his diplomatic misstep may yet come back to haunt him.
