Labour

British government's decision to abstain on Palestine vote is worse than a blunder. It is a historic misjudgement - Alexander

Douglas Alexander MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, said:

"Labour welcomes today's overwhelming vote for enhanced status for the Palestinians at the UN as an important non-violent, legal and diplomatic step towards a negotiated two state solution.

"The British Government's decision to abstain is worse than a blunder. It is a historic misjudgement which will be interpreted as a sign not of influence but of irrelevance.

"The Palestinians right to a state is not a gift to be delivered but a right to be acknowledged.

"The Labour Party have long called for the UK government to support the Palestinian's bid and it is a matter of real regret that the government have so misjudged its response.

"The whole international community must now encourage all sides to resume negotiations so that meaningful progress towards a two state solution can be made before it is too late."