Andy Burnham has said that the UK will “always stand with the underdog” as he told PMQs that his government had shown “leadership” in issuing sanctions against illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
After being accused of being “continuity Keir” by Kemi Badenoch, he said: "Britain has to stand for something. Britain has to show leadership. Britain has to stand for fairness against injustice, where people are being bullied out of their homes, intimidated.”
Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu has hit out at the trade ban, and said that the UK can “stand beside us in the fight against evil”.
The Israeli prime minister wrote on X: “It is not too late. Britain can still remember who it once was — and choose to become that nation again.”
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar announced that the UK’s consulate in Jerusalem would be closed as part of a package of retaliatory measures.
Ed Miliband said he “regrets” Israel’s response, but rejected domestic criticism that accused the Government of emboldening antisemites, including that of the chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis.
It has also emerged that Donald Trump did not push back on British plans to sanction Israeli settlements, after being informed of the plans by Andy Burnham.
A Western official briefed on the call said: “There was no request to hold off.”
Key Points
- Burnham says Israel sanctions show 'leadership' after Starmer comparison
- BREAKING: Police launch criminal investigation into Reform UK donations after undercover sting
- Benjamin Netanyahu calls on UK to back Israel 'against evil'
- Trump 'did not push back' on UK's sanctions against Israel
- Miliband ‘regrets’ Israeli response to sanctions but stands by decision
Politics explained: What went wrong with Labour’s council shake-up in England?
17:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Angela Rayner is accused of incompetence as boundary changes are shelved over the risk of legal challenge, as John Rentoul explains.
What went wrong with Labour’s council shake-up in England?
Watch: Benjamin Netanyahu calls on UK to back Israel 'against evil'
16:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The 12 British MPs banned from entering Israel over sanctions row
16:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Twelve British MPs have been barred from entering Israel following the UK’s decision to impose sanctions on goods produced in illegal West Bank settlements.
They are:
• Jeremy Corbyn MP
• Zarah Sultana MP
• Fahad Ansari, Director of Riverway to the Sea
• Naz Shah MP
• Diane Abbott MP
• Hannah Spencer MP
• Carla Denyer MP
• Sian Berry MP
• Ellie Chowns MP
• John McDonnell MP
• Richard Burgon MP
• Adrian Ramsay MP
Police must 'urgently consider' if more could have been done over protests – No 10
15:45 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Police should “urgently consider” what more could have been done in terms of intelligence and response tactics dealing with anti-migrant protests over the weekend, Downing Street has said.
Questions have been raised over Kent Police’s handling of a demonstration by masked activists that brought Dover to a standstill on Saturday.
A further protest took place in Portsmouth on Sunday, where around 200 demonstrators tried to block migrants being driven away for processing.
The prime minister’s official spokesman said on Wednesday: “I think it’s right that police urgently consider whether more could have been done to act on available intelligence and deploy a wider range of tactics to provide a more reassuring response for the public.
“Forces have been clear, they’ll be rightly learning from any lessons identified following the event, and ministers continue to engage to get reassurance on that issue.”
Recap: PM acknowledges AI ‘risks’ as Anthropic expert says tech ‘could kill all humans’
15:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Andy Burnham acknowledged “risks to national security” posed by artificial intelligence as a top safety researcher at Anthropic suggested the technology could wipe out humanity in the next decade.
The prime minister faced questions about the potential dangers of AI in the Commons after Evan Hubinger warned he believed there was a greater than 10 per cent chance it could pose a species-ending risk within 10 years.
It comes after the Financial Times reported that US firm Anthropic had withheld its latest model from the UK’s AI Safety Institute, one of the world’s leading bodies for testing the risks of the technology.
Asked about the report by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey during prime minister’s questions, Mr Burnham said: “He is absolutely right that AI poses risks to our national security, but it also could be the source of solutions to keeping us safer.”
Watch: Nigel Farage meets with undercover reporters posing as party donors
15:15 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Reform will 'cooperate fully' with police investigation, spokesperson says
15:10 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Reform UK has said it will co-operate fully with the Metropolitan Police investigation, a party spokesman said.
In a statement, the spokesman said: “Reform UK denies any wrongdoing and will fully co-operate with the investigation.
“We won’t be commenting further while a live investigation is under way.”
Why have police launched an investigation into Reform UK donations?
15:04 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The Metropolitan Police have launched an investigation into donations to Reform UK following an undercover sting operation.
It comes after the documentary from Channel 4 and investigative group Verbatim claimed Reform took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year, costing £32,500.
The purported donors were in fact undercover reporters from investigative group Verbatim posing as an American financier and his UK-based son.
Two of Nigel Farage’s key allies were forced to quit their roles over the scandal.
Foreign companies are not a permissible source of funding for parties, including for payments for studies and research, and accepting donations from them could constitute a criminal offence.
BREAKING: Police launch criminal investigation into Reform UK donations after undercover sting
14:55 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The Metropolitan Police have launched a criminal investigation into allegations that Reform UK breached donation rules with potential illegal foreign funding, the force has confirmed.
On Tuesday, a spokesperson for the force said: “Following a broadcast by Channel 4 News on Thursday, September 3, the Met received a number of reports relating to donations and polling involving a political party.
“Detectives have assessed the information provided and determined that there are potential offences requiring investigation.
“The potential offences are similar in nature to matters already under investigation by the Met’s Special Enquiry Team relating to donations made to the same political party. As a result, these matters will form part of that ongoing investigation.
“All allegations under investigation relate to potential offences under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.”
They added: “As part of enquiries, detectives are seeking to obtain relevant footage relating to the broadcast on Thursday, September 3.
“Detectives continue to liaise closely with the Electoral Commission and Crown Prosecution Service as enquiries progress.”
Burnham sets out conditions for second Scottish independence referendum
14:45 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Andy Burnham suggested another Scottish independence referendum could be held if public opinion shows demand for one.
The prime minister had previously told Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney that a second referendum is “off limits”.
But in the Commons he appeared to indicate a vote could be held if there was clear public support, comparing the situation to the conditions for a border poll in Northern Ireland.
Mr Swinney said: “To go from ‘off limits’ to this is an acceptance of the reality that the people of Scotland will decide their own future – not the UK government.
“For the first time since 2014, a British prime minister accepts that majority support for a referendum should mean one takes place.”
Analysis: This is why UK sanctions against West Bank settlers are so seismic
14:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
The UK’s decision to sanction Israeli settlers in the West Back has caused a furious diplomatic row.
Britain’s historical role in the establishment of Israel tells us why the move has such potency beyond the negligible economic impact, explains world affairs editor Sam Kiley.
This is why UK sanctions against Israel’s West Bank settlers are so seismic
Councillor becomes first politician in the country to defect from Reform to Labour
14:15 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
A Lancashire county councillor has become the first politician in Britain to defect from Reform UK to Labour, citing "growing concerns about Reform's ability to deliver at a local level”.
Nigel Swales, who represents Skelmersdale East on Lancashire County Council, was elected in May 2025 for Reform UK.
But he has now decided to leave the party, saying he had seen "first-hand" how "Reform simply doesn't have a serious plan”.
You can read more below:
Reform councillor becomes first to defect to Labour saying
Liz Truss moves podcast to Mike Graham's YouTube site
14:08 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Former prime minister Liz Truss has moved her podcast from her own YouTube channel to one run by former TalkTV host Mike Graham.
Ms Truss launched her show last year, but has largely failed to attract large audiences.
She will now broadcast on UKLive, a channel run by the disgraced ex-TalkTV host Mr Graham, who was sacked after the company said he had failed to cooperate with an investigation into a racist post that appeared on his Facebook account.
In The Room: Reform was told there was ‘nothing in’ Channel 4 sting before aides quit
14:00 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
It certainly isn’t the first time Reform’s finances have landed the party in hot water. But the latest scandal does show a changing Nigel Farage, says Helen MacNamara.
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Reform was told there was ‘nothing in’ Channel 4 sting before aides quit
Burnham leads approval polls - but Restore's Lowe more popular than Polanski
13:45 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
New approval polls show that prime minister Andy Burnham has the highest approval ratings of all the major party leaders, with two in five Britons responding that he is doing a good job.
The poll from More in Common also suggested that Restore Britain’s leader Rupert Lowe is more popular than the Green party’s Zack Polanski, who is standing to replace Sir Keir Starmer in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election next month.
As always, net approvals are only part of the story. Burnham still leads on total approval (39%), ahead of Badenoch (33%) then Farage (26%). 22% believe Ed Davey is doing a good job,compared to 17% for Lowe and 16% for Polanski. For the latter two under half give an opinion. pic.twitter.com/o4PB7yseDe
— Luke Tryl (@LukeTryl) September 9, 2026
Nigel Farage is losing social media crown to Andy Burnham, analysis suggests
13:30 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Nigel Farage’s reputation as the best party leader at using social media to communicate with voters is under threat, according to a new analysis which suggests he has been overtaken by the new prime minister.
While Sir Keir Starmer’s ability to communicate with voters was regularly cited as one of his greatest weaknesses, his successor Andy Burnham has marked his first few weeks in No 10 with a series of savvy, slick social media clips to broaden his appeal to the wider public.
Mr Farage is widely regarded as one of the most effective political communicators in British politics, but a new study suggests Mr Burnham is beating him in the key battleground for political attention online.
You can read this exclusive from The Independent’s political editor David Maddox below:
Nigel Farage is losing social media crown to Andy Burnham, analysis suggests
Air traffic control boss 'has the confidence of government' following airport chaos, No 10 says
13:17 , Nicole Wootton-Cane
Martin Rolfe, the boss of Britain’s main air traffic control provider, has the confidence of the government, Downing Street has said.
It comes amid widespread disruption at airports across the country after a “technical issue” that saw hundreds of flights cancelled on Tuesday.
Asked about the severe disruption at airports across the country, the prime minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “You’ve seen this morning that the Transport Secretary (Heidi Alexander) met the chief of National Air Traffic Service (Nats) to raise significant concerns at the scale of disruption on behalf of both passengers and industry.
“She’s asked him to carry out a full investigation into what happened to make sure that lessons are learned, so that this doesn’t happen again. She set a deadline for them to report back in a week’s time.
“And through our Civil Aviation Bill, which returns to parliament today, we will make sure air passengers get stronger protection of rights around cancellations, delays, and passenger support.”
Asked whether Ms Alexander and the prime minister still have confidence in Nats chief Martin Rolfe, the spokesman said: “Well, you’ve got the Transport Secretary’s instruction to the Nats CEO.
“I think it’s self-evident that she wants answers and the full investigation to be reported back in a week’s time, and she’s got confidence in him to deliver that.”
Pressed whether this meant the government’s confidence in the head of air traffic control was conditional on the outcome of the investigation, the spokesman replied: “We have confidence in him and he’s been tasked with the investigation, which will report in a week’s time.”
Burnham pledges ‘robust’ response to e-bike fires
13:00 , Suha Kidwai
Andy Burnham has pledged a "robust" response to the growing threat of e-bike fires, as pressure mounts to crack down on unregulated production of lithium-ion batteries.
The commitment follows a stark warning from Dame Siobhain McDonagh MP: “In a city still scarred by the loss of 72 lives in the Grenfell fire, we have a second equally flammable deadly risk — lethal lithium e-bike batteries.”
“Every other day, the London Fire Brigade are called out to an e-bike factory fire, with a record 206 in 2025 alone,” she added.
The calls follow a series of major blazes linked to the vehicles, including a recent incident in Wembley where 70 firefighters scrambled to tackle an inferno at a commercial warehouse containing e-bike equipment.
Fire services across Britain have repeatedly warned that low-quality lithium batteries can suffer rapid thermal runaway, leading to severe explosive fires that can engulf rooms within seconds.
Burnham has indicated that local authorities will work closely with trading standards and fire services to prevent unsafe products from entering the market and protect residents.
Polanski says Burnham's government have taken 'necessary first steps' on trade ban
12:56 , Holly Evans
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said the government had taken “necessary first steps” with a ban on trade with illegal settlements in the West Bank.
Asked his thoughts on comments from Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the chief rabbi, who described it as a “dark day for British Jews”, Mr Polanski said he was concerned “any time that anyone conflates antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli government”.
He added: “Actually, ironically, I think this leads to more antisemitism because it blurs the lines from people who should know better.
“What I would say to anyone who represents any religion or any group of people is, we need to be really specific with our language, we need to be really clear and sensitive.
“I think in a situation like this, where the Israeli government have to be challenged, to conflate a challenge to the Israeli government and a challenge to the settlers and the ethnic cleansing, as an attack on British Jews, actually makes me as a Jewish person feel less safe.
“I think everyone needs to be sensitive, including myself, about the language we use and how we talk about the situation.”
Benjamin Netanyahu calls on UK to back Israel 'against evil'
12:40 , Holly Evans
Britain must "reclaim its historic courage and stand beside us in the fight against evil”, Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has said.
The Israeli prime minister wrote on X: “It is not too late. Britain can still remember who it once was — and choose to become that nation again.”
The foreign secretary’s announcement of the ban triggered a diplomatic row, with Israel closing the British consulate in East Jerusalem and banning 11 MPs and a campaigner from the country.
WATCH & SHARE: Prime Minister's Office Spokesman @DoronSpielman on @SkyNews:
— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 9, 2026
Instead of attacking Israel—the country now standing on the front line against terrorism and the Iranian regime—Britain should reclaim its historic courage and stand beside us in the fight against… pic.twitter.com/a042nVRSX6
Burnham says Israel sanctions show 'leadership' after Starmer comparison
12:29 , Holly Evans
In response to being called “continuity Keir” by Kemi Badenoch, Andy Burnham said: “She mentions leadership. Let me tell her and the whole house where Britain is showing leadership.
“There have been Conservative politicians at this despatch box, Labour politicians too, for decades, who’ve talked about the importance of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
“Words from any politician about a two-state solution will be only words if it’s not backed with action. And leadership is about taking action.
He added that he applauded the father of the house and Tory MP Sir Edward Leigh, who had supported the sanctions in this “difficult and dangerous world”.
Mr Burnham continued: “Britain has to stand for something. Britain has to show leadership. Britain has to stand for fairness against injustice.
“Where people are being bullied out of their homes, intimidated, we will always stand with the underdog and take what action we can to support them. That is leadership on the world stage, Britain being true to what it’s always been about.”
Watch: We will be relentless in defending the Falklands, Burnham says
12:26 , Holly Evans
We will be relentless in defending the Falklands, Burnham says
12:19 , Millie Cooke
Andy Burnham has said the government will 'be relentless in defending' the rights of the Faklands Islanders to choose to be British.
It comes after Kemi Badenoch accused him of taking "weak decisions" that have led to threats from Argentina over the territory.
Addressing the prime minister, she said: "He's talking about anything except defence. He won't fund the military. I'll tell you what he is funding: Keir Starmer's £35bn surrender of the Chagos Islands and its crucial military base. That is British sovereign territory.
"This is a weak decision and it is no wonder that Argentina is now threatening the Falklands.
"We need to project strength and we need to show that British sovereign territory is non-negotiable. So why, just like Keir Starmer, is he planning to surrender the Chagos Islands?"
Responding, Mr Burnham said: "She does have to do better than that. They are the worst kind of points to be scoring when the country is watching.
"We will not surrender our base at Diego Garcia, we are in discussions with the US about that.
"And we will always respect the rights of the Falklands Islanders to choose to be British. That will never change under this government and we will be relentless in defending that."
'National security can’t come at the expense of social security'
12:16 , Athena Stavrou
Andy Burnham has criticised the Conservative plan to cut £4 billion from housing benefits in order to fund defence.The prime minister is being quizzed on his commitment to increasing defence spending to 3 per cent of GDP by 2030.
Speaking about the Tory plan, Mr Burnham said: “I don’t think myself that taking £4bn out of housing benefit is going to get the right consensus around this issue.”
He said the move would “create levels of homelessness in this country that we wouldn’t have seen before”.
“Yes we do everything to support our national security but it can’t come at the expense of social security,” he said.
“Having strong national security also depends on having resilience in our communities. This side of the house will not be forced to choose between the two.”
Watch: Andy Burnham begins second PMQs by marking 25th anniversary of 9/11
12:15 , Holly Evans
Burnham vows Healey will spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence
12:12 , Millie Cooke
Andy Burnham has vowed John Healey "will be wiling" to spend 3 per cent of GDP on defence spending amid questions from Kemi Badenoch on the issue.
The Tory leader asked Mr Burnham about chancellor John Healey's criticism of defence spending when he resigned as defence secretary from Sir Keir Starmer's government.
She said: "The chancellor used to say not hitting 3 per cent by 2030 would put our troops at risk. He also said Sir Keir Starmer was unable and the Treasury unwilling to provide that funding."So is the prime minister unable, or is he just unwilling to get that money by 2030?"
Mr Burnham hit back: "This chancellor, of all chancellors, will be willing to provide that funding to our Armed Forces and back our defence investment plan.
"This government's commitment to the defence of this country is absolute. We've taken the strongest possible stance in supporting President Zelensky and Ukraine. We are playing our role around the world and we will continue to do so."
Kemi Badenoch grills Andy Burnham on defence
12:08 , Athena Stavrou
Kemi Badenoch has opened this week’s PMQs by grilling the prime minister on his defence plans.
The leader of the opposition claimed the country was “thrown into confusion” last week as to whether the government will fund three per cent for defence by 2030.
“His chancellor resigned as defence secretary because the Labour government would not increase defence spending to 3 per cent by 2030,” she said.
“Does the prime minister think he was right to quit?”
Andy Burham replied: “As I said last week I appointed this chancellor because of his strong commitment to the defence of this nation. And we will honour or Nato commitments.”
He hit back at the Tory leader, adding: “I don’t feel you get the right to come to this house and claim the moral high ground and point the finger whenever you can when defence spending was 2.3 and fell under the conservative government.”
Burnham faces down jeers as he promises to 'back British farming'
12:04 , Millie Cooke
Andy Burnham faced down jeers in the Commons after he promised to continue to "back British farming".
He told MPs at PMQs: "On Back British Farming Day, Mr Speaker, I know the whole House will join me in paying tribute to everyone working round the clock to feed our country.
“Food security is national security and we will continue to back British farming as a government.”
It comes amid criticism of the Labour government's approach to farming after Sir Keir Starmer introduced the hated 'tractor tax'.
Andy Burnham facing second PMQs as prime minister
12:03 , Athena Stavrou
The prime minister is beginning to face his second grilling at his weekly questions, a day after his foreign secretary announced new sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements.
The prime minister began the session by marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11 this Friday, saying there would be a ceremonial changing of the guard and events across the country.
He also acknowledged the funeral of Pc Matthew Blades, who was killed in a head-on collision on the A66 alongside his colleague Pc Tom Clough.
PMQs begin
12:00 , Holly Evans
Andy Burnham has stood up at the despatch box, with PMQs now underway.
We’ll bring you all the latest updates.
Pictured: Burnham heading to PMQs
11:54 , Holly Evans
Andy Burnham set to face PMQs
11:45 , Holly Evans
At midday, Andy Burnham will face Kemi Badenoch in the House of Commons for his second round of PMQs.
The recently announced sanctions against Israeli settlements in the West Bank is likely to feature, with the Tory leader describing the move as “performative politics”.
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said he had spoken to Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch on Tuesday night and thanked her for her opposition to the “hostile Labour Government’s announcement”.
We’ll be bringing you all the latest lines here from 12pm.
Polanski says Green MPs are not 'concerned' about Israeli ban against them
11:28 , Holly Evans
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he was “proud” that Green MPs had been “staunch in their standing up for peace”, following an announcement that they would be banned from entering Israel.
He said: “I’m proud that all of our Green MPs have been staunch in their standing up for peace, standing up for peace in the region for both Israelis and Palestinians, and have also supported Jewish communities in the UK.
“And so to see the Israeli government ban them, I think is not something we’re particularly concerned about. They’re doing the right thing.”
Reform was told there was ‘nothing in’ Channel 4 sting before aides quit
11:23 , Holly Evans
Reform UK went into its annual conference last week with one piece of apparently comforting intelligence about the impending Channel 4 investigation hanging over the party: there was not much in it.
That reassurance turned out to be rather optimistic.
The undercover documentary appeared to show Nigel Farage’s chief of staff Dan Jukes and head of policy James Orr discussing ways of getting overseas money into British politics while circumventing electoral rules. Both men were gone within days.
Read the full article here and listen to the latest In The Room podcast online:
Reform was told there was ‘nothing in’ Channel 4 sting before aides quit
What are the Israeli settlements?
11:07 , Holly Evans
The settlements are civilian communities inhabited almost exclusively by Jewish Israeli citizens, that have been built on land captured by Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.
The West Bank has around 146 official Israeli settlements and 150 to 200 unauthorised outposts, with more than 700,000 Israeli settlers living in the illegally occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem. There are another 34 settlements in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, housing more than 30,000 settlers.
In July 2024, the International Court of Justice delivered a landmark opinion which declared that the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories, including the settlements, were illegal under international law. The UK ban brings the UK closer into compliance with the ICJ opinion.
Many Israeli settlers believe the West Bank, which they refer to as Judea and Samaria, is part of the Jewish people’s ancestral land, containing several sites that are central to Jewish history.
Settlement expansion has long been Israeli government policy, although the scale and pace has fluctuated over time as governments come and go.
The current government, especially its far-right factions led by police minister Itamar Ben Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, has made settlement expansion a cornerstone of their policy. The current government has approved 103 new settlements since 2022, including brand new ones for construction and the retroactive legalisation of some that already existed, according to The Times of Israel.
But even during the more moderate Israeli governments of recent times the settlements grew. During the Oslo peace process between 1993 and 2000, the settler population in the West Bank increased by more than 100,000, a process widely deemed to have damaged the prospects of peace.
Britain must do more to keep the dream of a Palestinian state alive
10:43 , Holly Evans
The expansion of Israeli settlements in occupied territory is wrong and should be reversed. Britain’s leverage over Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, however, is limited.
As a nation, we have some historical responsibility for the situation in Israel-Palestine, but that does not give us much power now. Hence the logic of British policy over recent decades, which has emphasised working with other countries – above all, the United States – to maximise our influence.
We have to be realistic, therefore, about how much difference will be made by the announcement by Ed Miliband, the foreign secretary, of a ban on Israeli goods and services connected with unlawful settlements.
Read the full editorial here:
Britain must do more to keep the dream of a Palestinian state alive
Is the Labour Party united on the issue?
10:28 , Holly Evans
The Labour Friends of Israel group has argued that a trade ban could lead to a “de facto boycott” which applies to the whole of Israel because many companies are linked to settlements thanks to financial integration or supply chains.
The group has also raised concerns that a trade ban could impact on opposition parties in Israel ahead of elections by adding to a “siege mentality” perpetrated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Peter Prinsley, vice-chairman of the group, told the BBC that trade sanctions on Israeli settlements create “a real risk of increased chances of attacks on the British Jewish community”.
“We’re coming up to what are called the High Holidays, these are the most significant religious days for Jews all over the world and there is a heightened sense of vulnerability in the British Jewish community right now,” he said.
Israeli embassy accuses UK of deploying 'nuclear option of sanctions'
10:03 , Holly Evans
The Israeli embassy in London has insisted that the sanctions are due to internal Labour politics, and accused the UK of deploying a “nuclear option”.
Speaking to the Today programme, Alex Gandler said: “A response and a conversation between friends is something that is wanted.
“Operating a nuclear option of sanction between democratic countries, especially towards a country that is at war for the past few years and is fighting a shared enemy in Iran, is something that is unheard of.
“Hence, our assessment that this has nothing to do with realities on the ground and everything to do with the fact that there’s politics involved.”
Israel trade ban must be 'floor, not ceiling,' say rights groups
10:00 , Suha Kidwai
While rights groups have welcomed the UK government's decision to ban imports from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank, campaign organisations have stressed that the measures must serve as a "floor, not a ceiling".
Citing ongoing loopholes that permit the UK to export weaponry used by Israel in Gaza – including components for F-35 fighter jets – the Stop the War Coalition has demanded further steps must be taken against to end British ties to violations of international law.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the coalition said: “If the government is serious about ending complicity, a full two-way arms embargo must follow.”
The campaign group warned that bans on settlement goods, finance, and advertising only address part of the wider issues surrounding Palestinian statehood.
How are the sanctions likely to affect UK trade?
09:46 , Holly Evans
The Occupied Palestinian Territory accounted for only 0.0008% of the total value of UK imports in 2025, or £5 million in current prices, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
This figure covers all imports from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
The ONS does not give a breakdown of imports from different areas of the Territories.
Of the £5 million imports, £4 million were fruit and vegetables, while £1 million were vegetable oil and fats.
What has caused the increase in tensions between the UK and Israel?
09:29 , Holly Evans
A combination of the expansion of settlements, the conduct of the Israeli military in Gaza, and restrictions on humanitarian aid have caused growing tensions between the UK and Israel in recent years.
In May 2025, the Government announced it was suspending negotiations on an updated trade agreement with Israel in response to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The UK also has an interim political, trade and partnership agreement with the Palestine Authority.
Keir Starmer’s government recognised the state of Palestine in September last year, with provisional borders covering land occupied by Israel in the 1967 conflict, and said the UK had a moral responsibility to support a peaceful future for Israelis and Palestinians.
The Government has already imposed sanctions on some Israeli citizens and organisations, and its guidance on “business risk” currently “strongly advises against” trade with “illegal Israeli settlements”.
The UK has also criticised the E1 settlement in the West Bank in joint statements with other countries, warning the plan would “divide the West Bank in two and mark a serious breach of international law”.
In May, the Government said UK businesses should not bid for construction tenders for settlement developments.
This is why UK sanctions against West Bank settlers are so seismic
09:13 , Holly Evans
A sudden and seismic row, allegations of “ethnic cleansing” against Jewish militia from the British government and a counterattack from Israel in shuttering the British mission to Palestinians have followed the UK’s decision to impose sanctions on Israel’s project to build illegal Jewish colonies on the occupied West Bank.
In announcing the trade sanctions, foreign secretary Ed Miliband said: “The British government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank - perpetrated by settler terrorists.
“All too often the Israeli government has turned a blind eye to this, and worse, members of it have made statements and taken actions to support the forced displacement of Palestinians.”
Read the full analysis from our world affairs editor Sam Kiley here:
This is why UK sanctions against Israel’s West Bank settlers are so seismic
Why have the Israel sanctions been announced now?
08:55 , Holly Evans
Global criticism of Israel’s handling of the war in Gaza, which has seen an estimated 73,000 people killed, and recent settler violence in the West Bank has been mounting in recent years.
Sir Keir Starmer faced criticism from within his own party during his tenure as prime minister for his perceived inaction on the matter, with Andy Burnham stating Labour “didn’t get it right”.
The UK announcement comes after Israel opened up tenders for the construction of some 1,200 settlement homes in the so-called E1 area - a strategically important area east of Jerusalem.
Foreign secretary Ed Miliband said that the controversial development would render a two-state solution “unviable” by “cutting through the heart of Palestine”.
He said more settlements had been approved under the four years of Mr Netanyahu’s government than in the previous 20 years and settler terrorism in the West Bank was “rampant”.
He added that he believes the UK should have “acted sooner” to put the measures in place, saying the government “didn’t feel we could wait”.
Miliband explains how sanctions on illegal settlements will work
08:36 , Athena Stavrou
Ed Miliband has explained how his new sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements will work, but admitted the measures will have “challenges”.
The foreign secretary said he was “confident” the trade ban will be enforceable, as he seeks to make a “substantive difference” in the region.
“It will be based on the postcodes of settlements, and companies that import to this country will have to vouch for where in the in Israel these products are coming from,” he told BBC Radio 4.
He also said he would sanction companies that “might be engaging in the occupied territories”.
“This is about seeking to have an impact on the services that are provided to expand the occupation,” he said.
“And we are very serious about making a substantive difference and using the power of our sanctions regime to make a difference to the facts on the ground.”
Watch: Miliband says Israel is turning a 'blind eye' to what he calls the ethnic cleansing
08:31 , Holly Evans
Miliband rejects idea sanctions could interfere with Israeli elections
08:20 , Athena Stavrou
Ed Miliband has denied his decision to enforce a trade ban with illegal settlements could influence upcoming Israeli elections, and insisted the UK should have “acted sooner”.
Political opposition warned the foreign secretary yesterday that the new sanctions could boost the support for more extremist candidates in the contest.
But asked about this possibility, Mr Miliband said: “ First of all, I think that fear, when people have said that, is overstated.“But secondly, I don't think we, as a British government, can outsource our moral and political responsibilities.”
He added that he believes the UK should have “acted sooner” to put the measures in place, saying the government “didn’t feel we could wait”.
He added: “It’s for the Israeli people to elect their government. We want a thriving Israel.
“We want a prosperous Israel, and we want an Israeli government we can work with.”
Watch: Miliband ‘regrets’ Israeli response to sanctions
08:06 , Holly Evans
Miliband: I under stand why Keir Starmer resigned as MP
07:58 , Athena Stavrou
Ed Miliband has said he understands why Sir Keir Starmer decided to stand down as an MP after resigning as prime minister.
The foreign secretary, who served in Sir Keir’s cabinet, said it is “very hard” for former prime ministers to return to the backbenches.
“I think it's I think it's different being a leader of the opposition from being prime minister,” he told Sky News.
“I think if you've been the prime minister of the country, it's very hard to then go back to being a backbencher and playing a role.
“And look, I think you know I had the grace of respect for Keir.
“I don't think we've seen the last of Keir Starmer in public service in one form or another, and there's all kinds of ways in which you can be a public servant.
“But I wish him well, and I totally understand why he made that decision.”
International community ‘frustrated’ by Israeli government
07:51 , Athena Stavrou
Ed Miliband has said the international community has grown “frustrated” by the Israeli government when asked about Washington’s reaction to his trade ban with illegal settlements.
The foreign secretary said he would “let our American friends speak for themselves”, when asked why the US president was yet to respond to his announcement.
“We obviously talked to them in advance of our announcement,” he told Sky News.
“You know, I think, I think the whole international community, let me say this, has been quite frustrated, to put it mildly, with some of the actions of the Israeli government.”
Asked if that includes the US, he said: “I’ll let them say what what they feel, but but I think there is real concern about what is happening.”
Donald Trump did not push back on British plans to sanction Israeli settlements in the West Bank after being informed of the plans by Andy Burnham.
A Western official briefed on the call between the prime minister and US president said: “There was no request to hold off.”
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Miliband disagrees with Chief Rabbi’s ‘deep concern’ for British Jews after sanction announcement
07:42 , Holly Evans
The foreign secretary has said he disagrees with the Chief Rabbi after he described Ed Miliband’s sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements as a “truly dark day for British Jews.”
Chief Rabbi of the UK Sir Ephraim Mirvis accused the government of ignoring “the deep concerns expressed by so many of us”, and said: “At a time when our community is more vulnerable than ever to the wave of extremism that has been building over recent years, these sanctions do nothing to advance the cause of peace. Nor do they make anyone safer – quite the contrary.”
But Mr Miliband rejected the Chief Rabbi’s words, telling Sky News: “I'm a proud British Jew, and I don't agree with the Chief Rabbi.
“I have great respect for the Chief Rabbi, but I don't agree with him, and I believe that it must be possible to do what we did yesterday, which is to stand up for British values of the rule of law, of dignity for people, of the prevention of injustice.
“And do so in a way as I did yesterday, to say to anyone in our country who holds British Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, that is anti-Semitism, pure and simple.”
Miliband ‘regrets’ Israeli response to sanctions but stands by decision
07:35 , Athena Stavrou
Ed Miliband has admitted the Israeli government’s response to UK sanctions on illegal settlements will be “damaging”, but insisted he made the right decision.
The foreign secretary said he was “proud” of introducing the trade ban on Tuesday, and said he had “weighed up the the costs and the and the benefits” before announcing the move.
“Now, I regret what the Israeli government has announced, but I'm proud of what we did yesterday, and it was the right thing to do,” he told Sky News.
“I’d prefer that Israel hadn't announced what it what it did, but overall, I strongly believe that what we did, along with other international allies, was absolutely the right thing to do.”
Trump 'did not push back' on UK's sanctions against Israel
07:33 , Holly Evans
A US official said that Donald Trump did not push back against the UK’s plans to issue sanctions against illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
Andy Burnham informed the US president earlier this week, before foreign secretary Ed Miliband announced the trade ban on Tuesday.
“There was no request to hold off,” says the US official briefed on the call.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also avoided criticising the ban, but made it clear that the US would not join the UK and 11 other countries in sanctioning Israel.
“We were made aware that they are gonna make this decision. We heard their arguments as to why. We share the goal of stability. We don’t want to see an uptick in violence or tensions in the West Bank in a tenuous time in the region,” Mr Rubio said.
Ed Miliband rejects notion that Israel sanctions put British Jews at risk
07:22 , Holly Evans
Foreign secretary Ed Miliband has rejected the suggestion he has put British Jews at risk by announcing sanctions on illegal West Bank settlements.
Amid a deepening diplomatic row, Mr Miliband said any person who targets British Jews because of the actions of the Israeli government “is an antisemite”.
Both Israel and the US criticised the UK’s move, which will see a ban on imports from illegal settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and sanctions on individuals and firms providing services to settlers.
Chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said people who “use hatred as a weapon against Jews” will be emboldened by the Government’s decision.
Hitting back, Mr Miliband told Jewish News: “There are British Jews going about their lives, there are the actions of the Israeli government, and then there is our relationship with Israel.”
“I want a strong and flourishing relationship with Israel,” the Jewish former Labour leader added.
ICYMI: Israel closes British consulate and bans 12 officials
07:00 , Harriette Boucher
Yesterday, Israel announced several countermeasures in response to the UK’s trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements. They include:
- The closure of the British Consulate in Jerusalem.
- The denial of entry to Israel to 12 individuals, including Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, and 9 other MPs.
- The removal of British representatives from the International Gaza Support Centre in Kiryat Gat.
- The termination of British activities to train Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria under the “British Support Team in Ramallah”.
Editorial: Britain must do more to keep the dream of a Palestinian state alive
06:00 , Harriette Boucher
Like its recognition of Palestinian statehood a year ago, UK government sanctions on Israeli settlements are likely to be more symbolic than substantive – prompting accusations that Labour is now tailoring its foreign policy to domestic political interests
Britain must do more to keep the dream of a Palestinian state alive
UK sanctions must not be 'left as symbolic gestures'
05:00 , Harriette Boucher
Britain’s sanctions on Israeli settlements must “be enforced with teeth”, a Palestinian advocacy group has said.
The International Centre of Justice for Palestinians said it welcomed the “overdue step” from the government, but urged it to “ensure these measures are robustly enforced.”
“The ban on imports from illegal settlements should have happened years ago,” the group said.
“Measures covering settlement advertising and services such as finance, construction, and infrastructure could help disrupt the expansion and maintenance of the settlement enterprise, but only if they are enforced with teeth, not left as symbolic gestures.
“UK policy must confront enablers, not just the symptoms.”
Government's sanctions will impact the safety of British Jews, says rabbi
04:00 , Harriette Boucher
A rabbi from Golders Green has described feeling “very saddened” by the UK government’s sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements, and believes they will have an impact on the safety of British Jews.
Sam Fromson told The Independent that the community was “feeling marginalised within British society and threatened,” adding: “I've got friends who are considering whether it is time to leave the country.”
He said: “This isn't a practical imposition on the Israeli government in any way. It's a minuscule amount of goods that are being sanctioned here.
“This is a symbolic political gesture to pander to a prevailing sentiment of a section of Labour voters, and it creates an increased negative environment for UK Jews through this political stunt.”
Mr Fromson said the announcement had made him feel “disconnected” from the British government and more doubtful about a long-term future for Jews in the UK.
“This type of action, this type of political posturing caters to the extremist elements in society and caters to people whose sole platform for political representation in the UK is an anti-semitic message, and this emboldens that deplorable minority.”
Miliband’s ‘brave’ settlement trade ban has come too late, say West Bank Palestinians
03:00 , Harriette Boucher
The Independent’s Alex Croft writes:
West Bank Palestinians are welcoming the UK government’s unprecedented ban on trade with the Israeli settlements - but say it is long overdue and doesn’t go far enough.
On Tuesday, UK foreign secretary Ed Miliband confirmed a “new approach” in the UK’s relations with Israel, imposing a ban on goods coming out of Israeli settlements in the West Bank which Britain regards as illegal.
Palestinians in the West Bank praised the “brave” government for a step in the right direction, as residents face growing violence and repression from Israeli settlers and authorities.
“It's too late, but to come late is better than never,” says Basel Adra, filmmaker and director of the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land, which documents life facing settler attacks and home demolitions in the beleaguered area of Masafer Yatta in the southern West Bank.
“It's the right thing, it's the moral thing, but it's too late, and we wish that all the international community, especially in Europe, will take the steps that the UK and this brave minister and prime minister did,” he tells The Independent.
Miliband’s ‘brave’ settlement trade ban has come too late, say West Bank Palestinians
MP banned from Israel says sanction 'will not intimidate me into silence'
02:00 , Harriette Boucher
Richard Burgon, who was among the 12 people banned from Israel on Tuesday, said the sanction “will not intimidate me into silence”.
The Labour MP wrote on X: “I’ve repeatedly called for sanctions on Israel over its war crimes and ethnic cleansing, including by providing evidence to the International Criminal Court.”
“The decision of the Netanyahu government to sanction me today will not intimidate me into silence.
“I will continue to do what is right, speak out in defence of international law and stand up for justice for the Palestinian people.”
ICYMI: Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbot among 12 British officials banned from Israel
01:00 , Harriette Boucher
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Labour MP Diane Abbott are among the 12 individuals banned from entering Israel in the wake of the British government’s sanctions, the Israeli government has announced.
Earlier, Israel’s foreign minister said 12 publicly elected British officials will be banned from Israel along with others “who are involved in anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic activities”.
Also on the list in MP Zarah Sultana, Fahad Ansari, the director of Riverway to the Sea, MP Naz Shah, MP Hannah Spencer, MP Carla Denyer, MP Sian Berry, MP Ellie Chowns, MP John McDonnell, MP Richard Burgon, and MP Adrian Ramsay.
Analysis: This is why UK sanctions against West Bank settlers are so seismic
Wednesday 9 September 2026 00:00 , Harriette Boucher
The UK’s decision to sanction Israeli settlers in the West Back has caused a furious diplomatic row. Britain’s historical role in the establishment of Israel tells us why the move has such potency beyond the negligible economic impact, explains world affairs editor Sam Kiley:
This is why UK sanctions against Israel’s West Bank settlers are so seismic
UK must now deal with consequences of sanctions, says ex-cabinet secretary
Tuesday 8 September 2026 23:00 , Harriette Boucher
A former cabinet secretary has said it is important the UK now “deals with the consequences” of the sanctions and maintain good relations with Israel.
Mark Sedwill told Sky News that the government must remember “we have an important defence and security relationship that needs to be preserved,” adding: “I hope that behind the scenes there is work going on to maintain that.
The ex-diplomat said: “We've got to look at the US relationship. What's the reaction going to be from Washington? We've had contrasting signals from there: Marco Rubio (US secretary of state) quite measured. The US ambassador in Israel, Mike Huckabee, quite inflammatory - let's see.
“That's the way the Trump administration sometimes works. It's difficult to interpret.”
Netanyahu spokesman condemns Miliband's 'preposterous' claims
Tuesday 8 September 2026 22:01 , Harriette Boucher
A spokesperson for Benjamin Netanyahu has labelled Ed Miliband’s claims as “preposterous”.
Doron Spielman told Sky News that the foreign secretary had essentially said “Jewish people are no longer allowed to live in Judea.
“There are hundreds of thousands of Jewish people in Judea. Most of them go to work on a daily basis. Their mothers and fathers are children,” he said.
He admitted there twas crime there and said Israel condemned “all crime, whether it's Jewish crime or Arab crime”.
“No one deserves to live under crime, to be threatened or to be intimidated. And therefore if there are Jews who are doing it, we condemn it, we bring them to justice. And if there are Arabs who are doing it, we bring them to justice.”
'UK and Israel governments putting politics before national interest'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 21:25 , Harriette Boucher
The British and Israeli governments are more interested in politics than the national interest, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews has said.
Phil Rosenberg told Sky News: “I think actually we're stuck as people who care about that bilateral relationship with two governments who are more interested in their political interests than the national interest.
“You’ve seen this kind of tit for tat, and it’s been building for a while.
“I don’t think it serves the cause that we want to see, which is a path to a two-state solution, the cause of peace, de-escalation and the best possible relations we can see between the UK and Israel.”
Government now face test of enforcing sanctions, says Amnesty
Tuesday 8 September 2026 21:00 , Harriette Boucher
The government’s sanctions on Israel are “a significant change of course”, but must be properly enforced, the chief executive of Amnesty International UK has said.
Kerry Moscogiuri said: “Today’s announcement is hugely welcome. The foreign secretary promised a ‘comprehensive reset’ and today could be the sea change that is needed.
“The UK government has committed to concrete action and recognised Israel’s unlawful occupation and ethnic cleansing.
“Amid ethnic cleansing, genocide and apartheid against Palestinians, today’s measures are a genuine step towards accountability for Israel’s repeated and flagrant violations of international law.
“But today is not the end of the road. The test now is whether these commitments are properly implemented and enforced, and followed by the wider action needed to hold Israel accountable for its crimes and meet the UK’s obligations under international law.”
ICYMI: Israel closes British consulate and bans 12 officials
Tuesday 8 September 2026 20:35 , Harriette Boucher
Earlier today, Israel announced several countermeasures in response to the UK’s trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements. They include:
- The closure of the British Consulate in Jerusalem.
- The denial of entry to Israel to 12 individuals, including Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, and 9 other MPs.
- The removal of British representatives from the International Gaza Support Centre in Kiryat Gat.
- The termination of British activities to train Palestinian Authority forces in Judea and Samaria under the “British Support Team in Ramallah”.
Israeli foreign minister thanks Badenoch for her 'firm opposition'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 20:10 , Harriette Boucher
Israeli’s foreign minister has spoken with Kemi Badenoch following the raft of countermeasures he imposed on the UK.
Gideon Saar said he thanked the Tory leader and shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat for their “firm opposition to the hostile Labour Government’s announcement today and its series of anti-Israel policies since taking office”.
He added: “I welcomed their support for the friendship with Israel and their commitment for the future relations between our countries.
“We know that we have many friends in the UK, but unfortunately we are faced with the ongoing hostility of the current Labour government.”
Corbyn says 'Israel doesn't want the world to see what it is doing' after being banned
Tuesday 8 September 2026 19:50 , Harriette Boucher
Ed Miliband showed 'real leaderships, banned Green MP says
Tuesday 8 September 2026 19:20 , Harriette Boucher
A Green MP who was banned from Israel today has praised Ed Miliband for the government’s sanctions, saying the foreign secretary showed “real leadership”.
Ellie Chowns told Sky News she was “wasn’t expecting” to be banned, but “had absolutely no plans to travel” there anyway.
She added: “This is a significant step…and I do welcome this step forward, the recognition that the occupation is unlawful, naming ethnic cleansing for what it is, and finally, the UK government agreeing to take concrete action in banning trade with settlements.”
Asked about the chief rabbi’s comments saying it was “a dark day for Jews”, she said; “I’m afraid I don’t agree with what the chief rabbi said.
“We have a Jewish foreign secretary who could not have been more clear that we have to distinguish between the absolutely essential need to protect the rights of Jewish people and the importance of being able to criticise the actions of the current Israeli government.”
Government's sanctions will impact the safety of British Jews, says rabbi
Tuesday 8 September 2026 19:08 , Harriette Boucher
A rabbi from Golders Green has described feeling “very saddened” by the UK government’s sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements, and believes they will have an impact on the safety of British Jews.
Sam Fromson told The Independent that the community was “feeling marginalised within British society and threatened,” adding: “I've got friends who are considering whether it is time to leave the country.”
He said: “This isn't a practical imposition on the Israeli government in any way. It's a minuscule amount of goods that are being sanctioned here.
“This is a symbolic political gesture to pander to a prevailing sentiment of a section of Labour voters, and it creates an increased negative environment for UK Jews through this political stunt.”
Mr Fromson said the announcement had made him feel “disconnected” from the British government and more doubtful about a long-term future for Jews in the UK.
“This type of action, this type of political posturing caters to the extremist elements in society and caters to people whose sole platform for political representation in the UK is an anti-semitic message, and this emboldens that deplorable minority.”
UK will continue to act in support of its values, says PM
Tuesday 8 September 2026 18:34 , Harriette Boucher
Andy Burnham has said Britain will continue to act in support of its values after his government announced a raft of sanctions against Israel.
He stated that the “suffering of the Palestinian people is a scar on the conscience of the world”, adding that the UK must be willing to lead on the international stage.
In his first statement following the ban, the prime minister said: “In an increasingly volatile world, Britain must be willing to lead. The British people expect it, as do our international partners, and I am determined my government will continue to act in defence of our values.
“Today, we are bringing forward targeted measures aimed not at the Israeli people, but in support of the two-state solution - and the prospect of Israelis and Palestinians living side by side in peace.
“The suffering of the Palestinian people is a scar on the conscience of the world. Innocent Palestinians, including children, continue to be killed in Gaza. And there is still a humanitarian crisis, with far too little aid getting in.
“That's why we are acting, and why Britain will continue to act in support of our values.”
Sadiq Khan backs sanctions and is 'heartened' by international support
Tuesday 8 September 2026 18:00 , Harriette Boucher
Sadiq Khan said it was “heartening” to see other countries joining the UK in imposing sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements, as he backed the government’s decision.
“It’s never been clearer: illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land are a significant obstacle to peace,” the London mayor said.
“There can be no two-state solution if there is no viable state left to call Palestine.
“That’s why the UK Government is right to take strong action and impose a ban on trade in goods from these settlements.
“With plans for more illegal settlements - and settlers currently inflicting terrible violence against Palestinians on a daily basis with impunity - it’s heartening to see the international community joining the UK in taking a stand and applying more pressure on Israel to recognise and respect the rights of Palestinians.”
Labour MP says Israeli ban 'will not intimidate me into silence’
Tuesday 8 September 2026 17:44 , Harriette Boucher
UK sanctions will be judged on their enforcement, says Palestine organisation
Tuesday 8 September 2026 17:41 , Harriette Boucher
Ed Miliband’s announcement will ultimately be judged by its enforcement, a Palestinian organisation has said.
The British Palestine Committee (BPC) said the sanction’s announced on Tuesday were “a necessary and overdue step”, and indicated “a shift in position from the previous Labour administration.”
It added: “Among the announced positions are certain measures which, if implemented and taken further, bring the UK closer to meeting its obligations under international law, and would indicate a shift towards holding Israeli war crimes to account.
“The announcement will ultimately be judged not by its rhetoric, but by its enforcement both within and beyond this current government.”
“We have an obligation to the living and the dead in Palestine to ensure that the actions of the Israeli government – and those who continue to support it – are held to account.”
Bunrham, Carney, and Macron issue statement on coordinated action
Tuesday 8 September 2026 17:30 , Harriette Boucher
Andy Burnham, Mark Carney, and Emmanuel Macron have just issued a statement after imposing sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements.
The leaders said a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was “critical for peace, stability and security in the Middle East and beyond.
“It is a fundamental national interest for the UK, France and Canada to protect and secure this outcome.”
The statement added: “Systematic settlement expansion in the West Bank, including the Government of Israel’s latest decision to progress the E1 settlement, as well as the dramatic increase in settler violence, pose a direct and urgent threat to that vision for peace.
“One year ago, we recognised the State of Palestine. The time has come to take further action to uphold our commitment to protect the two-state solution, our interests and to stand up for our values, before it is too late.
“Settlements are illegal under international law. The UK, France and Canada will therefore take steps to ban the importation of goods from settlements and enforce targeted measures against settlements and those who facilitate them or profit from them.
“In taking this coordinated action we reiterate our desire for a close and productive partnership with Israel, our enduring support for the Israeli people and our unwavering commitment to Israel’s security. We support a safe and secure Israel, living alongside a safe and secure Palestine.
“Today marks a further turning point in our approach to protecting the two-state solution. We will co-chair a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly later this month to advance our efforts and pursue peace.”
Green Party will 'not be bullied into silence'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 17:08 , Harriette Boucher
The Green Party has said it will “not be bullied into silence”, it has said, after Israel announced a ban on all of its MPs.
Hannah Spencer, Carla Denyer, Sian Berry, Ellie Chowns and Adrian Ramsay have been barred in the wake of the government’s sanctions.
A party spokesperson said: “We will not be bullied into silence by the Israeli government. We are proud of our MPs for standing up for Palestinian rights and demanding an end to British complicity in genocide and illegal occupation.
“These threats only strengthen our resolve. The British government must stand firm and follow these overdue restrictions with a full arms embargo and wide-ranging sanctions.”
UK chief rabbi calls sanctions 'a truly a dark day for British Jews'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 16:58 , Harriette Boucher
The UK’s chief rabbi has described the government’s sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements as a “truly a dark day for British Jews”.
Sir Ephraim Mirvis said the government’s measures would bolster “the very extremism they seek to target”.
He added: “Today our Government has chosen to ignore the deep concerns expressed by so many of us. The measures announced amount to little more than political flag bearing for mendacious anti-Israel rhetoric and those who harbour a dangerous obsession with the Jewish State.
“These measures will succeed only in bolstering the very extremism they seek to target. On the eve of Rosh Hashanah and at a time when our community is more vulnerable than ever to the wave of extremism that has been building over recent years, these sanctions do nothing to advance the cause of peace. Nor do they make anyone safer – quite the contrary.
“Gesture politics of this kind feeds into an increasingly hostile discourse about Israel, and the cumulative effect of such punitive policies is to further embolden those, at home and abroad, who use hatred as a weapon against Jews.”
Zarah Sultana says her ban from Israel is 'a badge of honour'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 16:45 , Harriette Boucher
US says it doesn't want 'anything destabilising' in West Bank
Tuesday 8 September 2026 16:40 , Harriette Boucher
America “obviously” will not do what the UK has done and does not want to see any destabilising in the West Bank, Marco Rubio has said, as he declined to comment further on Britain’s sanctions against Israel.
Asked about the announcement made by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, the US secretary of state told reporters: “Well, they alerted us to it. We don’t have any announcements, obviously, those are decisions that they make, and we, and the president has expressed this in the past, we don’t want to see anything destabilising going on right now in the West Bank with so much going on in the region.
“We think it has implications as well on our ability to make progress with regards to Gaza and the 20-point plan and the Board of Peace that we’re very committed to.
“Obviously, we’re not going to do what the UK did. We saw their announcement today, but I don’t have any comment on it right now.”
Israel tells UK: 'You have no chance of succeeding'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 16:27 , Harriette Boucher
Israel’s foreign minister has warned Britain that it has “no chance of succeeding” as he attacked UK sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements on Tuesday.
“Not only will you harm us, you will harm yourselves,” Gideon Saar said.
“I say to the Labour Government and to every government in the world that thinks it can force Israel to act against our national and security interests: You have no chance of succeeding.”
Swinney backs Labour's 'long overdue' sanctions'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 16:08 , Harriette Boucher
Jeremy Corbyn and Diane Abbot among 12 British officials banned from Israel
Tuesday 8 September 2026 16:03 , Harriette Boucher
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Labour MP Diane Abbott are among the 12 individuals banned from entering Israel in the wake of the British government’s sanctions, the Israeli government has announced.
Earlier, Israel’s foreign minister said 12 publicly elected British officials will be banned from Israel along with others “who are involved in anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic activities”.
Also on the list in MP Zarah Sultana, Fahad Ansari, the director of Riverway to the Sea, MP Naz Shah, MP Hannah Spencer, MP Carla Denyer, MP Sian Berry, MP Ellie Chowns, MP John McDonnell, MP Richard Burgon, and MP Adrian Ramsay.
Israel closes British consulate in series of countermeasures against UK
Tuesday 8 September 2026 15:47 , Harriette Boucher
Israel has just announced several countermeasures to Andy Burnham’s trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements.
The most significant is the closure is the closure of the British consulate in Jerusalem, which was decided with the agreement of Benjamin Netanyahu, the foreign minister said.
Gideon Saar told reporters: "A united Jerusalem is the capital of the state of Israel, and it is under the full sovereignty of Israel..
“Any foreign activity in the region must be made in the conventional and agreed upon ways, without any intervention in Israeli sovereignty.”
He also announced that 12 publicly elected British officials will be banned from Israel along with others “ who are involved in anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic activities”.
Israel will also “expel British representatives in from the International Centre for Assistance" in Gaza and Kiryat Gat in Israel.
British training operations of Palestinian Authority forces in Israel will also be stopped.
Israeli people have the right to live anywhere in Israel, Gideon Sa'ar says
Tuesday 8 September 2026 15:40 , Political journalist Millie Cooke
Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's foreign minister, has said Israeli people have the right to live anywhere in Israel, dubbing the latest sanctions "absurd".
He said: "Jewish people have the right to live all over the land of Israel, just as the British have the same right in Britain and the French have the same right in France.
"The connection and right of the Jewish people to this land are extensive documented, more than any other people or nation in human history. The measures taken by the Labour government in Britain is absurd."
Labour 'should have acted earlier' - Miliband
Tuesday 8 September 2026 15:37 , Harriette Boucher
Ed Miliband said it has taken Andy Burnham becoming prime minister to recognise the gravity of the situation, as he told MPs that Labour “should have acted earlier” to sanction illegal West Bank settlements.
In a criticism of former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer, the Foreign Secretary told the Commons: “We should have acted earlier, and it has taken the new prime minister to come in to recognise the gravity of the situation, to recognise the degree of public concern on these questions.”
It came in response to independent MP Iqbal Mohamed who asked “why it has taken the Labour government so long to act”.
The MP for Dewsbury and Batley had added: “Many will ask why this action has taken so long, since the ICJ (International Court of Justice) advisory opinion was issued in July 2024.”
Israel to close British consulate in Jerusalem
Tuesday 8 September 2026 15:30 , Harriette Boucher
The Israeli government has announced it is closing the British conculate in Jerusalem follow the UK’s sanctions on Israeli settlements.
Foreign minister Gideon Saar announced a series of retaliatory measure which also includes expelling some British representatives and stopping some British training in Israel.
Israel accuses UK of trying to interfer in its election
Tuesday 8 September 2026 15:28 , Harriette Boucher
Israel has accused Britain of trying to interfer in its election next month, with foreign minister, Gideon Saar, saying the sanctions were a “very stark intervention in Israeli political elections.”
He added: “It is an unacceptable blatant attempt to intervene in times of elections.
“This is something that the British government is trying to force upon Israel, and that attempt is doomed to fail.”
'We will respond to the hostile Labour government' - Israeli foreign minister
Tuesday 8 September 2026 15:21 , Harriette Boucher
Israel’s foreign minister has accused Labour of being “morally distorted” saying it left Tehran with no choice but to respond.
Kicking off a press conference, Gideon Saar told reporters: “The accusations of the foreign secretary were outrageous and also false.
“We know that we have many friends in Britain. Unfortunately, we have a hostile Labour government that is consistently operating against the state of Israel, and it has left us no choice but to respond to its hostile actions.
He added: “What Labour has done is morally distorted, and a stark intervention in the activities of a sovereign state.”
Government ban on goods from settlements welcomed but 'long overdue' says IDC chair
Tuesday 8 September 2026 15:20 , Bryony Gooch
The chair of the International Development Committee has applauded the foreign secretary's statement announcing measures restricting trade in goods from Israeli settlements.
Labour MP Sarah Champion said: “I strongly welcome the foreign secretary’s statement in the House today and I applaud the ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements. This is action that my Committee has long called for and is undeniably the right thing to do. It is bittersweet though, as I have to reflect on the lives and livelihoods that could have been protected if we had acted two years ago.
“We should be clear that this is long overdue; and I am concerned that the measures announced today may not have an immediate impact. With settlements continuing to expand and the humanitarian situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory rapidly deteriorating, there remains an immediate need for action."
Ms Champion previously called on the Government to respond to the 2024 ICJ advisory opinion and set out how its sanction regime can be used to deter further expansion of settlements, including the E1 settlement scheme.
“The foreign secretary must continue to press the Israeli Government to allow journalists and parliamentarians into Gaza. The continued denial of access to independent observers is unacceptable, particularly when the scale of the humanitarian crisis and potential war crimes makes scrutiny more important than ever.
“The UK must also do more to support the Palestinian Authority to ensure it can provide effective government and services to the Palestinian people. A viable Palestinian Authority will be essential to any credible pathway towards a Palestinian state and a lasting political settlement.
“The International Development Committee looks forward to seeing further details on how these measures will be implemented, and to seeing the Government respond to the other urgent issues the Committee has raised.”
Sanctions mark 'turning point' for UK-Palestine relations
Tuesday 8 September 2026 15:13 , Harriette Boucher
Sanctions on Israeli settlements in the West Bank mark a “turning point” in British relations with Palestine, the ambassador to Palestine has said.
Welcoming the move, Husam Zomlot said: “Today marks a turning point in UK–Palestine relations — from recognition to action, from condemnation to consequence.
“For decades, illegal Israeli settlements and occupation have been condemnded. Today, Britain begins to move from condemnation to consequence, from words to action.”
Trade ban 'long overdue' but unlikely to materially change life for Palestinians, says West Bank resident
Tuesday 8 September 2026 14:56 , Alex Croft
West Bank Palestinians are welcoming the UK government’s unprecedented ban on trade with the Israeli settlements - but say it is long overdue and doesn’t go far enough.
Madees Khoury, a brewmaster at Taybeh Brewery, says the ban will have more of a symbolic than economic impact - and is unlikely on its own to tangibly change their lives.
“This decision is welcomed but I believe it's long overdue, and I think it's just a small step forward. There's more that can be done from the UK and from the other Western governments,” says Ms Khoury, whose brewery is in Taybeh, the West Bank’s last fully Christian town.
“It is an important step, more politically and morally than economically. I just hope that it's not just something symbolic, that it's not just lip service but something substantial, and something will change on the ground and have more material effect.”
Ms Khoury does not see much material change in her life despite similar sanctions imposed by some other European countries so far.
“Western governments need to to follow international law, you know, and put more pressure on the Israeli government,” she says.
“As a Palestinian living on the grounds in the West Bank, I don't see much changing. I don't actually. I don't see anything changing for Palestinians.
“Even as a business in the West Bank, we are suffering,” Ms Khoury adds, referring to the brewery which she says has lost around 80 per cent of its business in the last three years.
“We don't have our own borders. We don't have control. We don't have any freedom of movement, whether it's within the West Bank or its trying to export abroad.”
Jewish council accuse UK of 'increasingly punitive and unbalanced approach'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 14:52 , Holly Evans
The Jewish Leadership Council, which represents the largest Jewish organisations in the UK, have said Ed Miliband is “yielding to pressure from the most extreme elements of British society”.
The group said: "The government’s increasingly punitive and unbalanced approach towards Israel does nothing to advance peace, risks harming Jewish life in Britain, and damages the UK’s relationship with a vital ally."
It added: “In the run up to the High Holy Days, placing this increased target on British Jews is deeply irresponsible.”
Our response to the government's announcement of an import ban on goods from Israeli settlements. pic.twitter.com/tWAkO5l3hc
— Jewish Leadership Council (@JLC_uk) September 8, 2026
Amnesty International calls sanctions a 'genuine step towards accountability' for Israeli actions
Tuesday 8 September 2026 14:41 , Holly Evans
Kerry Moscogiuri, Amnesty International UK’s Chief Executive, said: “Today’s announcement is hugely welcome. The Foreign Secretary promised a ‘comprehensive reset’ and today could be the sea change that is needed. The UK Government has committed to concrete action and recognised Israel’s unlawful occupation and ethnic cleansing.
“Amid ethnic cleansing, genocide and apartheid against Palestinians, today's measures are a genuine step towards accountability for Israel's repeated and flagrant violations of international law.
“The commitment to ban trade in settlement goods and services, prohibit financing of settlements, refuse arms that contribute to the occupation, and support the genocide case before the International Court of Justice represents a significant change of course.
“For years, Amnesty has worked with members, partners and Parliamentarians from across the political spectrum to press for meaningful change, and today shows that campaigning for human rights works.
“But today is not the end of the road. The test now is whether these commitments are properly implemented and enforced, and followed by the wider action needed to hold Israel accountable for its crimes and meet the UK’s obligations under international law.”
Tory MP says actions of settlers is 'absolutely violent and egregious'
Tuesday 8 September 2026 14:31 , Holly Evans
A long-serving member of Conservative Friends of Israel has backed the Foreign Secretary’s sanctions on illegal West Bank settlements.
Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh said: “What is happening in the West Bank, is absolutely violent and egregious. It is worse than stopping the two-state solution, it is ethnic cleansing.”
The Conservative MP for Gainsborough argued the Israeli government “could quite easily differentiate between general trade and trade to these illegal settlements”, and the UK’s actions should not affect the intelligence relationship.
He added: “I am proud to say, as the longest-serving member of the Conservative Friends of Israel, that I absolutely and fully support what he is doing today, because it is about standing up for freedom, for morality, and justice of all people in this world.”
Ed Miliband said Sir Edward is “absolutely right in the way that he talks about these issues”, adding: “I think he is absolutely right to say that he and I consider ourselves deep friends of Israel.”
He added: “The actions of its government over the past few years has not made Israel more secure, it has made it less secure, and that should trouble all friends of Israel across this country and across the world.”
Miliband vows to protect pharmaceuticals from Israel
Tuesday 8 September 2026 14:18 , Holly Evans
Ed Miliband has vowed to protect medical supplies as the Government brings in a ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories.
Shadow foreign secretary Tom Tugendhat asked Mr Miliband: “What instructions has he given to the enforcement bodies to ensure that Parkinson’s, myeloma, and multiple sclerosis patients will still get the drugs that keep them alive?”
Mr Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, replied: “On his point about medical supplies and so on – absolutely, they will be protected.”
The Foreign Secretary also told the Commons: “On our intelligence partnerships – I am confident about our intelligence and security partnerships.”
‘We are all smiling today’
Tuesday 8 September 2026 14:09 , Holly Evans
Labour MP Emily Thornberry has congratulated Ed Miliband on his “brave stance” as he announced trade sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements.
The chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee said she was “so very happy” to see the government “finally doing the right thing” in implementing the trade ban.
“As I look around this chamber, I see so many people here who have spent years campaigning on this issue, and there are many more outside this place,” she said.
“We are all smiling today.”
Miliband rejects Tory shadow minister’s warning sanctions could impact Palestinians
Tuesday 8 September 2026 14:03 , Holly Evans
Ed Miliband has rejected the idea that a trade ban on Israeli settlements shouldn’t be implemented in case it negatively impacts Palestinians.
Shadow foreign minister Tom Tugendhat claimed the sanctions won’t target settlers, and will instead be “stretched to include all Israeli and Palestinian businesses, leaving many without opportunity”.
But the foreign secretary said Palestinians figures have been urging the government to introduce such measures “for some time”.
“The voices that I listen to more than his on the Palestinian people are the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority and the Ambassador Palestine in the UK,” he said.
“Both of them have been urging us to act, and have been urging us to act for some time.”
Tory shadow minister warns sanctions may boost extremists in Israeli elections
Tuesday 8 September 2026 13:52 , Athena Stavrou
Tom Tugendhat has said today’s announcement of a trade ban with Israeli settlements could boost support for extremist candidates in the upcoming Israeli elections.
The shadow foreign secretary said the government was “pressing on in haste” with the policy he said was wrong.
He went on to say: “The Israeli election is in just seven weeks, and many have argued correctly that this action will help the extreme candidates' campaigns and not help those who are making the moderate argument for a united Israel.”
Shadow foreign minister responds to Miliband statement
Tuesday 8 September 2026 13:47 , Athena Stavrou
Shadow foreign minister Tom Tugendhat is now responding to Ed Miliband’s statement on new sanctions on Israeli settlements.
Mr Tugendhat said he agreed with the foreign secretary that illegal settlements “are wrong”.
“We all agree that groups of settlers have been guilty of outrageous abuses of ordinary Palestinians and crimes against innocent civilians,” he said.
“We agree that some Israeli ministers have indulged in hateful propaganda and incitement.
“We agree that the current path is leading Israelis and Palestinians towards a darker, more dangerous future.
“We agree that Hamas's terrorist atrocity of October the seventh left many Jews in Israel and around the world afraid and vulnerable, and we agree that the suffering in Gaza is horrific.”
Other nations including France, Norway and Spain join in sanctions
Tuesday 8 September 2026 13:45 , Holly Evans
A joint statement released this afternoon by the foreign ministers of Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
It said: "UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, the president of France Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney have agreed on the need to take action to prevent further damage."
It says that "Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Iceland, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden and the UK confirm their intention to introduce national and/or support European restrictions on trade in goods with settlements which are illegal under international law, or that they are actively considering these and other measures, in accordance with their national procedures".
Click here to read the full blog on The Independent's website
