Palestinian Territories: Development Support

Lord Stirrup Excerpts

Monday 1st September 2025 Lords Chamber

[Lord Farmer (Con)]

My Lords—

[Lord Stirrup (CB)]

My Lords—

[Captain of the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen-at-Arms and Chief Whip (Lord Kennedy of Southwark) (Lab Co-op)]

My Lords, it is the turn of the Cross Benches.

[Lord Stirrup (CB)]

My Lords, the viability of any potential Palestinian state must surely depend not just on effective institutions but on credible, capable political leadership. What assessment have His Majesty’s Government made of the prospect of that emerging in the Palestinian Territories in the near term?

[Baroness Chapman of Darlington (Lab)]

I might suggest that the noble and gallant Lord defines “near term”. Clearly, there is a great deal of work to do, but that should not put us off. If it is our position, which it is, that we want to see a two-state solution and that the Palestinian Authority is the only viable leadership for the state of Palestine, it is our duty and responsibility to work with those people in as constructive, open and positive a way as we can. I am very pleased with the support that we have been able to provide and I am glad that Michael Barber has done what he has done. My only regret is that it may well be some considerable time before we see the fruits of our work in the establishment of a sustained peace and the two-state solution that so many of us wish to see.