Dame Emily Thornberry, Chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, has cautioned Prime Minister-in-waiting Andy Burnham that international crises will inevitably demand his presence abroad, despite his desire to spend more time outside London. In a pointed commentary, she outlined a packed foreign policy inbox awaiting him at No. 10, spanning the war in Ukraine, stalled EU-UK relations, and the volatile Middle East.
Ukraine: A Test of Loyalty and Resolve
Thornberry highlighted the ongoing war in Europe, noting that Ukraine's long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries are causing petrol rationing in Moscow. Even former US President Donald Trump, she observed, has admitted that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is doing "pretty well." The UK's landmark 100-year Partnership with Ukraine, she argued, extends beyond military collaboration to a friendship rooted in respect for Ukraine's bravery against an illegal invasion. "We show up for Ukraine whenever they ask because the UK is a loyal friend and a serious player on the world stage. Russia, take note," she wrote.
EU-UK Summit: Urgent Need for Progress
Turning to European relations, Thornberry pointed out that the long-awaited second EU-UK Summit, originally scheduled for 22 July, has been delayed. She called for a new date to be set quickly and for a clear agenda. Top priorities include an agreement on food standards to ease trade of British cheddar cheese, linking energy systems for efficiency, taxing high-carbon goods, and making it easier for young people to travel in Europe. She also urged that the UK's defence industry be included in the EU's "SAFE" framework to facilitate equipment sales, and that Ukraine be enabled to purchase UK equipment through the EU's €90 billion Support Loan.
Middle East: Consequences for Illegal Settlements
On the Middle East, Thornberry described the situation as "easier said than done." The most pressing issue is Israel's illegal E1 settlement, which she said Prime Minister Netanyahu's far-right government is advancing in response to the UK's recognition of Palestine. "There must be consequences," she insisted, calling on the UK to join the Netherlands, Ireland, Norway, Spain, Belgium, and others in banning trade in goods and services with all settlements illegally built in Palestine. She referenced the International Court of Justice's clear directive that states should "abstain from entering into economic or trade dealings with Israel concerning Occupied Palestinian Territory." Noting that the UK has deliberated for over 700 days, she declared, "Enough. Let’s do the right thing."
Lebanon: Resilience Amid Crisis
Thornberry also shared observations from a recent visit to Lebanon with the Foreign Affairs Committee, describing it as "a beautiful country full of contradictions." In Beirut, she noted Israeli spy drones overhead while skyscrapers are being rebuilt despite ongoing strikes. She contrasted UK debates on refugee numbers with Lebanon's hosting of over 1 million Syrians and hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. With fighting in southern Lebanon, over 1 million of the country's 5.5 million people have fled north, an experience she likened to 10 million people moving from northern England to the Home Counties. "I am in awe of the way Lebanon is able to keep going," she wrote.
Lighthearted Notes: Parliament and Gardening
In lighter moments, Thornberry praised Norwegian MPs for doing the "Viking row" in their parliament to support their national team, suggesting that if England beats Mexico, the Speaker might lead MPs in a rendition of Oasis's "Wonderwall," despite rules against singing in the chamber. She also commiserated with city gardeners, recounting struggles with frost, a wet spring, a slug apocalypse, and now twice-daily watering of delphiniums. "And they said gardening was supposed to be relaxing!" she joked.
