Summary

  • "Now is the time to stand up for a two-state solution," Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy tells Laura Kuenssberg ahead of the UK recognising a Palestinian state

  • Pressed on whether this is a propaganda victory for Hamas, Lammy says there is a difference between the proscribed terrorist group and the Palestinian people

  • "Wrongs are being righted," with the PM's expected announcement, says Husam Zumlot, the UK representative of the Palestinian Authority

  • Elsewhere, Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey tells Laura he "wrestled" with his decision not to attend Trump's state banquet

  • Asked if his party is afraid of discussing trans rights, Davey insists that the Lib Dems debate the issue "from all sides - unlike other parties"

Media caption,

David Lammy: UK can't wait for perfect circumstances to recognise Palestinian State

  1. Musk's comments at London rally 'not words I would personally have used' - Stridepublished at 10:13 BST

    Kuenssberg also asked Stride about Tory leader Kemi Badenoch's refusal to condemn comments made by Elon Musk at a protest organised by far-right activist Tommy Robinson in London.

    There, Musk said that "violence is coming and you either fight back or die."

    Stride says "those are certainly not words that I would personally have used."

    He adds it is a "fine line between free speech and saying things which are unlawful."

    "Everyone has their own way of expressing what they feel about things", Stride says.

  2. Recognising Palestinian state 'not applying any leverage' - Mel Stridepublished at 10:11 BST

    Just before the show ended, Laura Kunessberg spoke to Conservative shadow chancellor Mel Stride.

    Stride says recognising a Palestinian state "is going to do nothing to get more humanitarian aid into Gaza or free the hostages or move towards us towards that particular outcome."

    He says to “simply say we are going to recognise Palestine is not applying any leverage or getting anything in return”.

    It is more to do with the internal politics of Starmer's own cabinet and his backbenchers, Stride says.

    There are no recognised international borders or a capital for a Palestinian state at the moment, he adds.

    "You make these moves when you can exercise some leverage," he says.

    Media caption,

    Mel Stride says recognising Palestine 'down to internal Labour politics'

  3. The programme has ended - but there's still more to comepublished at 10:00 BST

    Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme has come to an end for this week.

    But we're continuing to mop-up a couple of key lines from the show - so stick with us.

  4. Zomlot says PA would hold elections as soon as possiblepublished at 09:58 BST

    Kuenssberg asks Zomlot if the Palestinian Authority (PA) is “too weak for this process to proceed. You haven’t held elections for years and there is widespread evidence of corruption," she says.

    Zomlot says the PA are committed to holding elections as soon as possible.

    He adds that elections during the current military operations by Israel would be difficult, given "road blocks, checkpoints and settler terrorism rampaging" in the West Bank.

    He says that recognising a Palestinian state is "essential". Anyone that disagrees is looking backwards and not forwards, he says.

  5. 'Wrongs are being righted' with Palestinian state recognition - Palestinian Authority's UK reppublished at 09:45 BST

    Husam Zomlot

    We're hearing now from Husam Zomlot, the UK representative of the Palestinian Authority. Kuenssberg asks him what the UK recognition would mean for Palestinian people.

    "It would mean a lot," he says, but then asks what it would mean to the people of Britain. "This is more about Britain than it is about Palestine", he says.

    He says the issue today is about "ending the denial of our existence that started 108 years ago in 1917."

    He says he thinks today the British people should celebrate, because “wrongs are being righted".

    It is the recognition that "the wrongs of the past are beginning to be corrected”.

  6. Panel react to societal divisions, Starmer's leadership and Trump's influencepublished at 09:42 BST

    panel desk on sunday with laura kuenssberg

    The panel have given their snap reaction to the two interviews so far on the show with David Lammy and Ed Davey.

    Jack Thorne, writer and producer of Emmy-award winning Adolescence, admits "division within society" is something that worries him.

    "Social media exacerbates it and I don't think we have a handle on it," he adds.

    PoliticsJOE Political correspondent Ava-Santina Evans is asked about Prime Minister Keir Starmer's leadership. She questions some of Labour's spending announcements which she says have not "rung true" to what was promised during the election campaign.

    On Palestinian statehood, former Conservative Foreign Secretary Malcolm Rifkind talks about Donald Trump's position. He says that Trump is the only person that can push Netanyahu to end the war in Gaza.

    "At the moment he seems to be taking unjustified credit for ending all wars except the one [in which] his own intervention would make a substantive difference."

  7. Davey insists Lib Dems 'not afraid' of conversation around trans rightspublished at 09:37 BST

    On Saturday at the party's conference in Bournemouth, some Liberal Democrats were stopped from having a debate they wanted to raise about trans rights.

    "Why are you afraid of the conversation," Kuenssberg asks.

    "We are not," Davey answers. "At our very last conference, earlier this year, we had a full debate on LGBT+ rights - including on trans issues.

    "The question should go to other parties, have they debated it? We have, this year and in a really thoughtful way where both sides of the argument were heard.

    "We engage, we have debate from all sides unlike other parties."

  8. Kuenssberg asks: Is it time for Ed Davey to retire the gimmicks?published at 09:35 BST

    Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey falls into the water while paddleboarding on Lake WindermereImage source, PA Media

    Returning to domestic politics, Kuenssberg asks Davey about public perception, saying that polling shows two-thirds of the public don't think the Liberal Democrats are "serious" as a political party.

    "Part of that is to do with your stunts, which were very good at getting attention for you at the general election and then the local council election campaigns," Kuenssberh says. She then asks whether it is time for Davey to "retire the gimmicks".

    "You don't have to take yourself to seriously, as long as you take the voters seriously," Davey says.

    "I think politics can be a bit depressing at the moment, a bit divisive - and I think a little bit of joy is not a bad thing."

  9. Davey wrestled with the issue of attending Donald Trump's state banquetpublished at 09:33 BST

    A view of the banquet table in St George's Hall, Windsor CastleImage source, PA Media

    Davey was one of a handful of key politicians who did not attend last week's state banquet at Windsor Castle for Donald Trump's historic second state visit as US president.

    "I actually argued for the state visit for Donald Trump," Davey says. "I think we have to engage with people, even if we disagree with them and I had originally intended to go to the banquet."

    Over the summer months, though, Davey says he "wrestled with this as an issue", since Trump is "the one person in the world who could stop what is happening in Gaza and he could ring up the Qatari government and get the hostages released."

    Kuenssberg points out that Davey would have had the chance to say that to Trump's face had he gone to Windsor.

    The Lib Dem leader replies: "I have had the huge privilege of going to a number of state banquets - I think six or seven in the past - and I know from that experience you don't get the chance to speak to the visiting head of state."

  10. Elon Musk a threat to our country, Davey says as he calls for Ofcom investigationpublished at 09:32 BST

    Davey says he thinks "it is right to take on the divisiveness," addressing a question from Kuenssberg about using splits in politics for attention.

    "I think many people feel threatened by it frankly and are really worried about where our country could go and I think it is absolutely right to call people out."

    Davey then turns his attention to Elon Musk, telling Kuenssberg that he thinks "he is committing crimes."

    He adds: "If you look at what is on his platform where you see adverts that he and his team allow - because he has taken away the child safety team - that is what Elon Musk's business is doing."

    Davey says that Musk doesn't want to follow Parliament's regulations and "rails against the online safety laws which are trying to pull him to account". He says that the Liberal Democrat position is that "Ofcom should go after him".

    The Lib Dem leader continues, saying Musk is "a threat to our country" and adds "we should take him on".

    Media caption,

    Ed Davey says Lib Dems are right to call out Elon Musk

  11. 'People at last week's march were protesting about things Lib Dems care about' - Daveypublished at 09:30 BST

    Activists reach Westminster during the Tommy Robinson-led Unite the Kingdom march and rally in central LondonImage source, PA Media

    Kuenssberg asks Davey whether the thousands of people who attended a Unite the Kingdom march in central London last weekend were displaying British values.

    "I am sure many of them were," Davey replies. "The group round Tommy Robinson who is from the the hard right, and his accolades, I don't think are. They are into division and frankly hate speech which is really unpleasant."

    But, he says, a lot of people at the march were "there protesting about things Liberal Democrats care about - problems in the health service, not being able to get a GP or an NHS dentist or the huge waiting lists.

    "They were protesting about the cost of living and how high their bills are - and I agree with those concerns.

    "And as we campaign in communities we are in touch with, I think some of those people who may have gone to that march, and I think they hear from us and actual realise we share their values."

  12. What does being British mean to Ed Davey?published at 09:29 BST

    Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey (centre) arrives at the Liberal Democrats autumn conference, at the Bournemouth Conference Centre in Dorset, with members of the Vectis Corps of Drums, from the Isle of WighImage source, PA Media

    Next, we're hearing from Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey.

    Kuenssberg speaks to Davey in Bournemouth, where the Lib Dems' party conference is being held, and begins by asking him what being British means to him.

    "When you talk to British people they want a country that is decent and caring that focuses on giving people much better chances in life and sorting out our economy.

    "And at the moment when I talk to people they feel that is not happening, they worry that the Labour government just isn't delivering and they worry about the divisive politics of Nigel Farage."

  13. 'We cannot have attacks on prison officers' - Lammypublished at 09:27 BST

    eputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy meets staff, during a visit to HMP Belmarsh in south east London where he announced new body armour would be given to officers and security staffImage source, PA Media

    Finally, Lammy talks about his new job as justice secretary following Keir Starmer's reshuffle earlier this month.

    Following a visit to Belmarsh Prison in south-east London, Lammy is asked by Kuenssberg whether "it is risky to increase the number of weapons in our prisons" - a reference to an increase of tasers being given to prison officers.

    Lammy points to "the most awful attack by the brother of the Manchester Arena bomber in which three officers were injured".

    "We cannot have these attacks," Lammy says.

    "It is important in high risk environments that we give our prison officers body armour and that they are equipped with tasers and spray defences that they have so if faced with these scenes they can deal with them."

  14. Lammy hears appeal from Palestinian student hoping to bring children to UKpublished at 09:26 BST

    Lammy and Kuenssberg

    A small group of students are being allowed to come from Gaza to the UK for their studies.

    They not allowed the bring their children with them, Kuenssberg says.

    The show hears from one student from Gaza, Manar al-Houbi, who says her three children are not allowed to join her in the UK. "Don't make me choose between my family and my education," she says.

    Kuenssberg asks why she cannot bring her kids with her.

    Lammy replies that for months the UK has been trying to bring people from Gaza to the UK.

    He says that 34 people from Gaza have arrived in the UK in the last few days. Their entry, he says, is subject to UK immigration rules on a case by case basis.

    He says he doesn't know the circumstances of each family, but doesn't think they should be subject to even more pain or hardship.

  15. 'Time to stand up for a two-state solution', Lammy sayspublished at 09:19 BST

    Lammy and Kuenssberg speak

    Lammy is asked about what he would say to the families of Israeli hostages who insist now is not the correct time to declare recognition of a state of Palestine.

    The deputy prime minister says he continues to meet with hostage families and adds that "it is also right to say there are many hostage families who are shocked and appalled" by the setbacks to ceasefire talks.

    "Hamas is not the Palestinian people," Lammy continues, as he says that "now is the time to stand up for a two-state solution."

    He says that the UK government believes in a homeland for Jewish people, but also civil rights.

  16. Is this a propaganda victory for Hamas?published at 09:19 BST

    Media caption,

    David Lammy: UK can't wait for perfect circumstances to recognise Palestinian State

    Kuenssberg asks Lammy is this is a propaganda victory for Hamas. "They say this is one of the fruits of 7 October,” Kuenssberg says, asking: "why give any bit of good news to that group?"

    Lammy replies that there is a difference between the proscribed terrorist group Hamas, and the Palestinian people.

    "What do we say to the children of a future Palestinian state," he says.

    "Do we have to wait for the perfect conditions" before it is recognised, he asks.

    He says he thinks that is the assessment that the UK and other countries are now making.

  17. PM will outline government's position on Palestinian state later today - Lammypublished at 09:12 BST

    Lammy sits in the Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg Studio

    Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is the first guest on the programme and Kuenssberg begins by asking what tangible difference recognising a Palestinian state will actually make.

    Lammy accepts the move "will not feed children", as that will come "down to humanitarian aid". Nor will it free hostages, which he says "must be down to a ceasefire".

    The deputy prime minister says he and Keir Starmer have urged for a ceasefire and says the prime minister will set our the government's position later today.

  18. Here's what's making headlines on this morning's newspaperspublished at 09:02 BST

    A composite image of the front pages of the Observer and the Sun on 21 September 2025

    Kuenssberg takes us through a quick look at what is making the headlines in this morning's Sunday newspapers - with many front pages featuring the government's diplomatic move to recognise a Palestinian state.

    The Observer shows a bombed out building in Gaza; while the Sunday Times reports Keir Starmer will claim it is a moral duty. The Sunday Telegraph predicts more sanctions on Hamas, which the government considers a terrorist organisation. as well.

    Elsewhere, the Jeffrey Epstein scandal continues to playout in the tabloids with the Sunday Mirror showing a picture of Ghislaine Maxwell in her new low security prison. Meanwhile, the Mail and Sun on Sunday splash on an email from the Duchess of York to Epstein, after she promised publicly to cut ties with him.

  19. This week's show is underwaypublished at 09:01 BST

    Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg has just started.

    We'll be following all the action right here - but you can watch at home by clicking watch live at the top of this page.

  20. UK set to recognise Palestinian statepublished at 09:00 BST

    Media caption,

    PM: UK will recognise Palestinian state unless conditions met

    The UK is expected to recognise a Palestinian state today, a move Keir Starmer pledged to make unless Israel agreed to certain conditions, including reaching a ceasefire deal in Gaza.

    Since pledge was made in July, Israel has launched a new operation in Gaza City and a UN-backed food security body has declared a famine is unfolding in parts of the Strip.

    The UK is now due to recognise the state alongside France, Australia, Canada and other countries. The US disagrees with the plans, arguing it risks "rewarding Hamas".

    At a joint press conference during the US president's recent state visit, Trump and Starmer acknowledged the area was "one of [their] few disagreements".

    More than 140 countries already recognise the state of Palestine - we've got more on what such recognition means in our explainer.