On 13th October, MPs voted by a big margin (274 for, 12 against) for a motion plus an amendment that:

“This House believes that the Government should recognise the state of Palestine alongside the state of Israel ‘as a contribution to securing a negotiated two state solution.’”

Photo credit: palestinebriefing.org

It was the biggest backbench debate in this Parliament that has been held without a three line whip.

It was a non-binding vote, which means it doesn’t change the government’s position, so it is only symbolic. But still.

Calder Valley MP Craig Whittaker didn’t vote on the motion to support the recognition of Palestine. If you want to know why he didn’t take part in the vote, you can write to him here.

You can see his voting record here.

Halifax MP Linda Riordan voted in favour of the motion.

At the end of the debate, the ‘no’ campaign tried to avoid a full vote by declining to put up tellers, meaning that the ‘division’ (a formal vote in the House of Commons) would have been cancelled. But so that votes could be counted, two Palestine supporters, Jeremy Corbyn and Mike Wood, agreed to be tellers for the ‘no’ lobby.

The Hansard report of the debate and how MPs voted is here.