Rushanara Ali MP has urged the UK Government to show leadership and courage at the UN General Assembly when it votes on a resolution granting ‘non-member observer state’ status to the Palestine Authority.

Responding to a House of Commons statement given by the Foreign Secretary, William Hague, Rushanara said: “Given our country’s distinct history in the region and the legacy that was left behind, does the Foreign Secretary agree that Britain has a unique responsibility to take a stand, show international leadership and courage and generate some hope for both the Palestinians and the Israelis who want peace? Surely, the resolution would be one way to signal our role in showing that leadership. I ask him to think again before tomorrow.”

Rushanara joined Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander in calling on the Foreign Secretary to reconsider Britain’s position ahead of the UN General Assembly vote, due to take place on Thursday 29th November.

The Shadow Foreign Secretary told the Commons: "When will the Foreign Secretary understand: statehood for the Palestinians is not a gift to be given, but a right to be acknowledged.

"I warn the Foreign Secretary, if the UK abstains tomorrow it will not be a measure of our growing influence, it will be a confirmation of our growing irrelevance to meaningful engagement in the search for peace."