The Palestine Statehood (Recognition) Bill [HL] is a private member’s bill introduced by Baroness Northover (Liberal Democrat). The bill would require the UK government to formally recognise Palestine as a sovereign and independent state.
Palestine Statehood (Recognition) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 37 of 2024-25 (318 KB , PDF)
Approximate read time: 10 minutes
Alongside the recognition of a sovereign Palestine, the bill would also require the UK government to recognise the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination in the state of Palestine.
The UK government has committed to supporting a two-state solution involving a sovereign Israel and a sovereign Palestine, and to recognising Palestinian statehood at a time when it is most conducive to the peace process.
Palestine Statehood (Recognition) Bill [HL]: HL Bill 37 of 2024-25 (318 KB , PDF)
The US government has recently shifted its approach to Ukraine, engaging in direct negotiations with Russia regarding the conflict’s resolution, pursuing a minerals agreement with Ukraine, and temporarily halting military aid and intelligence sharing. During these developments, the UK government has reaffirmed its support for Ukraine through financial and military assistance, in addition to hosting a peace summit and committing further military aid.
The global landscape has changed significantly over the last couple of decades. This has led to questions about the UK’s current global standing and its ambitions. This briefing considers these issues in the context of the UK’s membership of international organisations, and its defence policy, foreign policy, and influence through soft power, the economy and aid spending.
In February 2025, the UK government announced that it was resuming negotiations with India with the aim of agreeing a free trade deal. This followed work by the previous Conservative government which initially opened trade talks in 2021. An overview of these talks is provided in this briefing alongside information about the UK’s relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Relevant trade statistics are also included.
