UK Column News — 9th September 2026

Mike Robinson (0:08)

Good afternoon, it's Wednesday, the 9th of September, 2026, just after one o'clock. Welcome to UK Column News. I'm your host, Mike Robinson. Joining me by video link today are Charles Malet and Vanessa Beeley. Now later in the programme, we'll be looking at the latest plans to create a police data factory, the school children's unique identifier and the drive for stronger online safety legislation and yet another 100 million pounds of taxpayer money for Ukraine. But we're going to begin today with Ed Miliband's speech in the House of Commons yesterday, apparently criticising Israel for settler violence in the West Bank. Charles, welcome to the programme and over to you.

Charles Malet (0:46)

Thank you very much, Mike. Good afternoon all. Yes, as you quite rightly allude to, it is in many ways hard to know exactly what to make of this. But before we get into the detail of what was said and the reaction to it, I'm going to begin in effect at the end with the way in which Miliband was hoping it would be received and in a way his grand finale.

Ed Miliband (1:11)

Just as we want Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side, so Madam Deputy Speaker, we have to live out those values in Britain. Jews in Britain, Muslims in Britain, people of all faiths and none have a right to live without prejudice or fear.

Madam Deputy Speaker, a Briton that upholds its values at home and around the world, a Briton that fights against oppression and suffering wherever it occurs, a Briton that stands up for what is right and I commend this statement to the House.

Charles Malet (1:45)

So stirring stuff in some way, but like with all government communications, it must be regarded in so far as what was not said during his 20-minute statement, which was issued almost exactly 24 hours ago to, it must be said not a House of Commons. I would say it is significant to look at Miliband's credentials because there was a certain amount of caveat put into what it was that he went on to say. And we'll just look at how he shaped the space within which he was going to enter into by setting out his own credentials, his stall.

Ed Miliband (2:24)

I do so as a proud British Jew, someone with the deepest gratitude to the state of Israel for giving a home to my grandmother after she lost her husband, my grandfather and 60 other family members with the hands of the Nazis. I remember visiting her in the 1970s in Tel Aviv and seeing the life and sanctuary Israel had provided. Indeed, some of my most joyful childhood memories were picking oranges as a kid on the kibbutz where my cousins lived. Madam Deputy Speaker, my personal story and that of thousands of British Jews, is one of the many reasons why I say to anyone here or around the world, who questions Israel's right to exist as a homeland for the Jewish people, you are wrong and we will call you out whenever you engage in this attempt at the erasure of Israel.

So, Madam Deputy Speaker, I'm proud of my Jewishness and unwavering in my support for the state of Israel. There is absolutely no contradiction between this and my support for the state of Palestine. Indeed, quite the opposite.

Charles Malet (3:31)

So, he's absolutely attempting to walk a very precise line there. Now, I can't possibly know this, but it almost looks as though Miliband's credentials are exclusively what have allowed him to be able to go on to say the things that he said. As though this subject is simply too sensitive to be dealt with by somebody who is not Jewish and has not spent time in Israel. Nevertheless, let's get to the heart of what he is actually dealing with and what his remedy to the problem is.

Ed Miliband (4:03)

Today, I announce that the official view of the British government is that the occupation is unlawful.

Because of Israel's entrenchment of its control, its intention to extend permanent sovereignty and its expansionist agenda via illegal settlements. Madam Deputy Speaker, our position is not just an overdue statement of reality. The government believes the unlawfulness of the occupation should be reflected in the economic relationships we choose to have with the occupied territories. I do not believe the British people want us supporting the occupation by accepting products from settlements in our shops and supermarkets. So I can announce today that we will introduce an import ban on goods from illegal settlements in the occupied territories.

Charles Malet (4:53)

So without wanting to take too much wind out of his sails, that is it. That is the sum total of what it is that he has proposed. And he went into detailed explanations about the actions, activities of the state of Israel and how they should be regarded. And we will look at a few more clips. But his actions or those of the British government are limited to that particular measure. And I'll come on to a bit more detail about that. Now, in terms of the response, what's been interesting about this is to see what happened even well before Miliband started speaking about this. So three days ago, four days ago, in fact, we saw the US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, saying, the Brits have lost it. The Jew hate of their government knows no boundaries and knows no facts. Now, of course, this is a very familiar sort of rhetoric, and just interesting to see how that is still put out there, admittedly, in advance of Miliband's statement. But before, he actually had the chance to express his Jewish and apparently pro-Israeli credentials. Now, again, in terms of predictability, the Board of Deputies of British Jews has put out a statement, and they said on Twitter that they expressed deep regret at the government's announcement of sanction on settlement goods. Now, it does seem almost intriguing that they would describe themselves the Board of Deputies of British Jews, because they seem to be exclusively concerned with the state of Israel, and very much suggesting that Israel itself should be immune from any sort of criticism at all because of the potential for an antisemitic backlash. Of course, this is the well-worn, well-trodden path. The Chief Rabbi, in effect, stating exactly the same thing. This is truly a dark day for British Jews. These measures announced amount to little more than political flag bearing for mendacious anti-Israel rhetoric, and those who harbour a dangerous obsession with the Jewish state. These measures will succeed only in bolstering the very extremism they seek to target. Now, those words may be considered highly questionable, and they were certainly dealt with as such by the Voice of Rabbis Twitter channel, which contains a number of very prominent rabbis in the United States.