A senior Conservative MP has claimed that many within his party privately back Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s calls for Israel to end its war in Gaza, describing Starmer as being on “the right side of history and humanity.” Mark Pritchard, the Conservative MP for The Wrekin, made the comments in an interview with LBC, saying he personally supports the prime minister’s recent position on the Gaza conflict, despite criticism from some within his own party. “Half the population of Gaza are children. They are being literally bombed to bits every single day. They are being slowly starved,” Pritcha

A senior Conservative MP has claimed that many within his party privately back Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s calls for Israel to end its war in Gaza, describing Starmer as being on “the right side of history and humanity.” Mark Pritchard, the Conservative MP for The Wrekin, made the comments in an interview with LBC, saying he personally supports the prime minister’s recent position on the Gaza conflict, despite criticism from some within his own party. “Half the population of Gaza are children. They are being literally bombed to bits every single day. They are being slowly starved,” Pritchard said. “It’s absolutely right the UK prime minister, who so happens to be a Labour prime minister right now, would stand up on the right side.” Pritchard, a self-described strong supporter of Israel, also told LBC he had shifted his stance and now supports the immediate recognition of a Palestinian state — a change from his earlier belief that such a move required more groundwork. “It may be symbolic, but I think it will be a huge symbol of support both for the Israelis that want to see that and also for the Palestinians,” he said. “But the key point at the moment is the Israeli government needs to be held to account.” He further claimed that many Conservative MPs have privately expressed similar views. “I support the UK prime minister, and many more, by the way, in the British Conservative party are coming up to me privately at the moment.” The remarks come amid continued tension over the UK’s position on Israel. Earlier this week, Starmer joined French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in calling for a ceasefire in Gaza and condemning settler violence in the West Bank. In response, business secretary Kemi Badenoch criticised the joint statement and suggested halting UK-Israel trade talks was not the appropriate response to the conflict. Speaking to broadcasters on Friday, Badenoch said she was “not surprised” that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had criticised Starmer and argued against the UK’s use of sanctions. However, Pritchard avoided criticising Badenoch directly, stating, “I’m not coming here to attack my party leader. I’m coming on to support Kemi on the comments on antisemitism, [while] supporting the prime minister on his strong stand, finally, on what’s going on in Gaza.”

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