A LABOUR cabinet minister clashed with a BBC presenter on Tuesday over the UK Government’s response to the genocide in Gaza.
Peter Kyle, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, was quizzed on the mid-recess Cabinet meeting that has been called to discuss Gaza and Palestinian statehood on Tuesday.
Kyle said Keir Starmer had been “intensely moved and disturbed” by images coming from the enclave but defended the continued sale of arms to Israel.
The presenter challenged the timing of the UK Government’s reaction, asking why it had taken Starmer so long to be moved given how long the Palestinian genocide has been going on.
Kyle pushed back firmly, saying Starmer has been “deeply, deeply moved and disturbed by what he has seen".
He insisted the Prime Minister had already taken “incredible action” by working with international partners by recognising the International Criminal Court and sanctioning figures, including members of Benjamin Netanyahu's government and individuals in the West Bank.
However, the presenter referenced earlier comments from the SNP's Stephen Gethins, who pointed out the UK Government continues to supply arms to Israel – including parts of F-35 fighter jets.
Kyle squirmed as he responded, insisting arms sales were “under constant review” and claiming that “British law is applied equally to all areas and all territories”.
The presenter suggested Labour’s pledge to recognise Palestinian statehood – which Starmer continues to drag his heels on despite growing pressure from his own MPs – was nothing more than an “empty gesture”.
Kyle retorted: “I’m saying nothing of the sort … what we are trying to do is deliver a statehood that has meaning.”
Asked repeatedly when Labour would fulfil the commitment, Kyle refused to provide a timeframe.
He said: “What you’re asking me to do is to release the contents of a meeting that hasn’t happened yet.”
Elsewhere on Tuesday, Kyle stoked controversy after suggesting that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage would be on the side of notorious paedophile Jimmy Savile, if he were still alive.
Kyle rejected Farage's calls for an apology after making the claim amid an ongoing row over the Online Safety Act.
