Cabinet ministers and third of MPs call on Starmer to recognise state of Palestine

Exclusive: Rayner and Cooper understood to back action as 221 MPs sign letter calling for UK recognition of statehood

Keir Starmer is under intense pressure from his most senior cabinet ministers and more than a third of MPs to move faster on recognising a Palestinian state in response to Israel withholding aid to starving civilians in Gaza.

Angela Rayner, the deputy prime minister, and Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, are understood to be among ministers who believe the government should take the lead on Palestinian statehood alongside France.