Tensions are escalating in Westminster tonight after US Vice President JD Vance publicly criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for what he called “a series of wrong calls” in the conduct of the Gaza offensive. The remarks, delivered during a closed-door briefing that was leaked to the press, have sent shockwaves through Whitehall. Labour and Conservative MPs alike are now demanding an official response from the Foreign Office.
Vance’s comments are a significant departure from the Biden administration’s previous posture. Sources close to the Vice President suggest he is positioning himself for a potential 2028 run, seeking to differentiate himself from the White House on foreign policy. “He’s playing a long game,” a senior Republican strategist told me. “Netanyahu is a useful foil for that.”
But in London, the fallout is immediate. Sir Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure from his own backbenches to clarify the UK’s stance. Left-wing Labour MPs, already uneasy over the party’s support for Israel, see an opening. Diane Abbott has tabled an urgent question in the Commons, demanding the government “disassociate” itself from Netanyahu’s strategy. “We cannot be seen to be complicit,” she said in a statement.
Downing Street is trying to play it cool. A spokesperson said the UK “continue to support Israel’s right to self-defence, but we urge restraint and adherence to international law.” That line may not hold. Tory MPs are also restless. Former defence secretary Ben Wallace warned that “vacillation weakens our alliance with the US.” He wants a coordinated response with Washington.
But here’s the rub. The US administration is fractured. Vance’s remarks were not cleared by the State Department. The leak itself is a tell – someone in the VP’s circle is sending a signal. To whom? Pro-Palestinian activists? The GOP base? Or perhaps to Netanyahu himself, who is scheduled to address Congress next month.
Cabinet sources indicate the Foreign Office is scrambling to arrange a call between Foreign Secretary David Lammy and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. But Lammy is in a bind. He has already clashed with Starmer over the Gaza ceasefire vote. Another row on this issue could trigger a reshuffle.
Meanwhile, the Israeli embassy in London is keeping its head down. A spokesman said only that “Israel appreciates the UK’s continued friendship.” Behind the scenes, they are furious. “Vance is an opportunist,” one diplomat told me. “He’s using our security for his ambition.”
Polling suggests the public is divided. A recent YouGov survey found 48% of Britons think the UK should condemn Israel’s actions in Gaza, while 32% support the government’s current position. That gap is narrowing. If Vance’s comments shift the debate, Starmer could face a backbench revolt within weeks.
The timing is awful for the PM. He is already dealing with a floundering NHS, a rebellion on planning reforms, and whispers of a challenge to his leadership. The last thing he needs is a foreign policy crisis that splits his party.
What happens next? Expect a flurry of statements tomorrow. Labour MPs will demand a Commons debate. The Foreign Affairs Select Committee may call witnesses. And behind closed doors, the usual suspects will be ringing their contacts in Washington to gauge the true extent of the split.
One thing is clear: the Vance-Netanyahu feud is not going away. It is a symptom of a deeper fracture in the Western alliance over the Middle East. And as ever, the UK is caught in the middle, trying to balance historic ties with both the US and Israel, while a restless parliament looks for a lead.
Stay tuned. This is developing.
