Peers arguing Palestinian state recognition unlawful ‘missing the point’, says minister – as it happened

Demonstrators gather outside Downing Street. Photograph: WIktor Szymanowicz/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

5.00pm BST

Afternoon summary

• The UK’s plan to recognise a Palestinian state is compliant with international law, a minister has said, after a group of peers raised concerns that it did not meet the legal bar. As Haroon Siddique writes in an explainer, there are plenty of lawyers who agree with the government, not the peers who wrote the letter. Haroon says:

Philippe Sands KC, a professor of law at University College London, pointed out that in its advisory opinion last year the UN’s top court, the international court of justice (ICJ), recognised “the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, including its right to an independent and sovereign state”.

Sands said: “I have no doubt whatsoever that if it were asked, the ICJ would reject the argument that it is somehow unlawful to recognise the existence of Palestinian statehood. Palestine meets all the legal criteria of statehood; all that remains is a political consideration, namely whether to recognise or not that those criteria are met. The court’s language makes clear that that right exists now, and it exists because all the criteria for statehood are met.”

• Jonathan Reynolds, the business secretary, defended the fact that the government’s plan for recognising Palestinian statehood does not involve firm “conditions” being placed on Hamas, saying the government could not make the decision conditional on what Hamas does because it does not negotiate with terrorist organistions. (See 2.34pm.)

• The Treasury should consider a wealth tax to close the growing gap in the public finances, according to a Labour former shadow chancellor.

• Nine out of 10 nurses have rejected their 3.6% pay award for this year and warned that they could strike later this year unless their salaries are improved.

For a full list of all the stories covered on the blog today, do scroll through the list of key event headlines near the top of the blog.

Updated at 5.02pm BST

4.51pm BST

Mary-Ann Stephenson confirmed as new chair of Equality and Human Rights Commission

Mary-Ann Stephenson, who has been head of the Women’s Budget Group, a feminist economic thinktank, has been confirmed as the new chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the government has announced. She will take up her post on 1 December.

Her appointment was opposed by some transgender groups because in the past she has defended women who have been vilified for their gender critical views.