UK to recognise Palestinian statehood in September unless Israel agrees ceasefire and two-state solution, Starmer says – as it happened

Keir Starmer makes a statement in Downing Street. Photograph: Toby Melville/AFP/Getty Images

6.41pm BST

Early evening summary

• The UK will formally recognise the state of Palestine this September as a result of the “increasingly intolerable” situation on the ground in Gaza, unless Israel abides by a ceasefire and commits to a two-state solution for the Middle East. As Pippa Crerar reports, Keir Starmer’s cabinet has agreed to support a roadmap for peace in the region after coming under intense domestic pressure over the mounting humanitarian crisis in the territory, and internal calls to follow France in acknowledging Palestinian statehood. The prime minister recalled his cabinet from their summer break to approve the plan after he held talks with Donald Trump in Scotland on Monday. The US president said he did “not mind” the UK taking a position on the issue, even if he would not. Starmer told his ministers that, because of the catastrophic situation on the ground in Gaza and the diminishing prospect of reaching a two-state solution, now was the right time to move to this position.

• The UK technology secretary, Peter Kyle, has become embroiled in a row with Nigel Farage after saying the Reform leader was on the side of child abusers such as Jimmy Savile when it came to online safety.

6.35pm BST

Trump says he and Starmer did not discuss PM's Palestinian state recognition plan

Donald Trump told reporters on Air Force One that he and Keir Starmer did not discuss Britain’s plan to recognize a Palestinian state in September unless Israel takes a number of steps to improve life for Palestinians, Reuters reports. “We never did discuss it,” Trump said.