Ellie Chowns, Green Party MP for North Herefordshire. CC image Wikipedia.
Responding to a pledge made by Andy Burnham that there will be access to free social care services for everyone in England, and that the plans will be put before voters at the next general election, Green Party leader in parliament, Dr Ellie Chowns MP, said:
“For too long successive governments have kicked social care down the road and treated it as a political football – so it is certainly welcome to hear the Prime Minister both recognising the scale of the challenge and signalling a willingness to work across party lines to tackle it.
“The Green Party is clear that social care should be available to everyone who needs it and free at the point of use, just like the NHS is for healthcare – it makes no sense that help is available for those facing cancer, but not for those struggling with dementia, disability, or old age.
“Despite the Prime Minister’s stated commitment to working cross-party on this issue, so far no invitation has been extended to the Greens to take part in discussions. We would therefore like to reiterate to the Prime Minister that the Green Party stands ready to work constructively with the government and other parties to build a social care system that commands broad support and truly works for families across Britain.
“And for those struggling with the cost of care now, promises of transformative action following the next general election are simply not good enough. After years of delay, we simply cannot kick this crucial work down the road again. Work needs to begin now to fix the system that is failing too many people and putting unsustainable pressure on families and the NHS.”
The Green Party has welcomed restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements as an overdue first step, but says the measures must be strengthened and followed by wider action to end British complicity in Israel’s illegal occupation and the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Greens have long campaigned for a settlement trade ban and are calling for comprehensive restrictions on goods, services and investment in both directions, covering all illegal settlements with no loopholes.
The party has called for a full two-way arms embargo, wide-ranging sanctions and an end to military and intelligence cooperation with Israel.
Ellie Chowns, Green Party MP for North Herefordshire. CC image Wikipedia.
Green Party Foreign Spokesperson Dr Ellie Chowns MP said:
“The measures announced today mark a critical and overdue step towards upholding the UK’s obligations under international law – one which the Green Party has long fought for and strongly supports. We additionally welcome the government’s recognition that the occupation is unlawful and that Palestinians face ethnic cleansing in the West Bank. Exerting pressure on the Israeli Government over illegal settlements is crucial to protecting the human rights of Palestinians, and Greens are pleased to see action taken to progress this aim.
“Important questions do remain regarding the scope of announced measures on services and investment. Ministers must make clear that restrictions cover all illegal settlements, not only settlement expansion; UK businesses must additionally be stopped from financing, insuring, and profiting from settlements that already exist. A comprehensive ban must cover goods, services, and investment in both directions, including goods containing settlement-produced ingredients or components and the letting of settlement properties, with effective enforcement and no loopholes.
“The Foreign Secretary has spoken of a fundamental reset in Britain’s relationship with the Israeli Government – this reset could not be more welcome, nor more needed. It is critical that our work does not end here; the UK has a legal and moral responsibility to use every lever to end its complicity in the Israeli Government’s crimes, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
“Britain’s legal duty to prevent genocide arose when ministers knew, or should have known, of a serious risk. That threshold was crossed long ago. Continuing military and intelligence cooperation with Israel while Palestinians are killed and denied lifesaving aid is a shameful failure to fulfil that duty. Ministers must take further action.
“That requires a full two-way arms embargo, wide-ranging sanctions, an end to military and intelligence cooperation, and withdrawal from the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement. Existing export licenses that sustain the occupation must be ended, and restrictions must cover F-35 components supplied through the international pool. Britain must also press for unimpeded humanitarian access and independent war crimes investigations to secure accountability and justice.
“This is a moment of real progress, and should be recognised as such. But it must also be the beginning of something much bigger. The Green Party will welcome every meaningful step towards upholding international law and protecting Palestinian rights – and we will keep pushing for further action that is still urgently needed.”
The Green Party is calling for the UK Government to:
Ensure restrictions form a comprehensive ban on goods, services and investment in both directions, covering all illegal Israeli settlements – not only settlement expansion – with effective enforcement and no loopholes.
Deliver the fundamental reset in relations with Israel promised by Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, standing firm against threats of retaliation from US and Israeli officials.
Introduce a full two-way arms embargo, covering both sales to and purchases from Israel, end existing export licences that sustain the occupation, and reverse the exemption for F-35 components supplied through the international pool.
Impose wide-ranging sanctions, including banning the sale of Israeli government bonds in the UK and trade or investment involving companies that contribute to Israel’s genocide, alongside targeted sanctions on responsible senior officials.
End all military and intelligence cooperation with Israel – including cancelling and publishing the classified 2020 UK-Israel military agreement, which remains in force.
Demand and help secure unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so essential food, medicine, shelter, and other aid can reach those who desperately need it.
End the UK-Israel Trade and Partnership Agreement.
Push for safe and unimpeded access to Gaza for international media, enabling journalists to report freely and independently.
Use every available diplomatic lever to ensure immediate and regular International Committee of the Red Cross access to all prisoners and detainees held in Israeli facilities.
Drive independent investigations into war crimes and back justice mechanisms for victims, in order to bring about the accountability required for a just and lasting peace.
Ellie Chowns, Green Party MP for North Herefordshire. CC image Wikipedia.
Green MP and leader of the Parliamentary Green Party Dr Ellie Chowns has written to newly appointed Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband urging the UK Government to take genuine action over the Israeli Government’s “grave and ongoing human rights abuses” in Palestine and end UK complicity in genocide and other war crimes.
Writing ahead of Parliament’s return next week, the letter urges Miliband to demonstrate a more effective and principled way of responding to the Israeli Government’s actions, arguing that it is “vital that the UK Government does not simply condemn breaches of international law, but acts decisively to stop them.”
The full text of the letter reads:
Dear Ed,
As you will be aware, we are quickly approaching the return of Parliament following a summer which has ushered forth a new Prime Minister, a largely new Cabinet, and a new position for yourself, as Foreign Secretary. What is yet to be seen is whether we will also see a new and more effective and principled way of responding to the Israeli Government’s grave and ongoing human rights abuses in Palestine. It is vital that the UK Government does not simply condemn breaches of international law, but acts decisively to stop them.
The need for urgent action cannot be overstated; the ongoing genocide has seen more than 1,000 Palestinians in Gaza killed by Israeli forces since the ceasefire came into effect in October 2025. Access to critical humanitarian aid such as food and medical supplies remains heavily restricted, and the displacement of Palestinians has continued as Israeli forces expand further into Gaza beyond the agreed ceasefire boundaries. Illegal Israeli settlement expansion and settler violence in the West Bank also continues to escalate, with the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reporting about 190 attacks a month in the first four months of 2026, alongside the publication of construction tenders for 1,200 homes in the E1 area.
While I recognise your condemnation of the E1 plans and acknowledgement of the destructive threat that settlement expansion poses to peace in the region, it is clear that simply issuing statements of concern is not enough to make the Israeli Government change course.
I therefore urge you to learn from the mistakes of your predecessors and take genuine action to protect the human rights of Palestinians, uphold international law, and make clear that the UK will no longer be complicit in genocide and other war crimes in Palestine. These actions include, but are not limited to:
Ending all arms sales to, and military cooperation with, Israel;
Banning all trade with illegal Israeli settlements in order to ensure the UK does not profit from the occupation of Palestine;
Imposing further sanctions on Netanyahu and other senior Israeli Government officials responsible for breaches of international law;
Demanding and helping secure unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza so essential food, medicine, shelter, and other aid can reach those who desperately need it;
Driving independent investigations into war crimes and backing justice mechanisms for victims, in order to bring about the accountability required for a just and lasting peace.
There is significant and growing support for these measures across Parliament, including from many MPs within your own party. Indeed, the Prime Minister himself has acknowledged that Labour previously “got it wrong” on Gaza and has said that more needed to be done to ensure Israel adheres to international law; your new position grants you an opportunity to turn that recognition into meaningful action.
I therefore hope that you will act with the urgency that this moment demands. The UK Government must stand firmly for international law, human rights, and the protection of civilians, not for further impunity for those responsible for war crimes.
I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you to further discuss the cross-party role Parliament can play in securing justice, accountability, and a lasting peace for Palestinians and Israelis alike.
Yours sincerely,
Dr Ellie Chowns
MP for North Herefordshire
Leader of the Parliamentary Green Party and Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs
UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham admits to blatently lying and engaging in deception to become leader of the UK Labour Party and Prime Minister.
Ellie Chowns, Green Party MP for North Herefordshire. CC image Wikipedia.
Reacting to Israel’s escalating action in Lebanon, Dr Ellie Chowns MP said:
“Israel’s escalating military campaign in Lebanon has already killed thousands of people, displaced more than a million from their homes, and destroyed vital infrastructure, displaying an indefensible disregard for civilian lives and international law.
“This cannot continue. The UK must put an end to the impunity that has enabled and emboldened the Israeli Government on the world stage. The Green Party repeats our calls for the UK Government to end all arms sales to and military cooperation with Israel, to drive independent investigations into war crimes and support justice mechanisms for victims, and to impose sanctions on Netanyahu and all other government officials responsible for breaches of international law.
“The people of Lebanon – like the people of Palestine, Iran, and Israel – deserve to live in safety and peace, not to have their human rights used as bargaining chips which can be disregarded without consequence. The UK must stand on the side of international law and justice, and act now to help prevent further atrocity.”
“Netanyahu’s directive to expand Israeli military control over 70% of the Gaza Strip is horrifying, constituting a grave breach of the ceasefire if carried out and a blatant disregard for the rights and lives of Palestinian civilians already enduring unimaginable suffering.
“This plan will not serve to strengthen the path to security or peace in the region. It will only drive yet more families from their homes, further restrict the delivery of aid, and deepen a humanitarian crisis in a territory already devastated by war, famine, and genocide. The people of Gaza cannot be squeezed into an ever-smaller space and expected to survive without proper access to food, water, shelter, and medical care.
“The UK Government must act immediately: unequivocally condemn any attempt to seize more territory or ethnically cleanse Gaza, insist on full compliance with the ceasefire and international law, and demand unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza at scale. It must also halt all arms sales to and military cooperation with the Israeli Government, drive independent investigations into war crimes, and impose sanctions on government officials responsible for breaches of international law.
“The continued expansion of military control and the forced displacement of Palestinians cannot be allowed to become normalised. The UK must stand up for international law, human rights, and the protection of civilians – not further impunity for perpetrators of war crimes.”
