More than 30 celebrities and business leaders are demanding the UK apologises for 'abuses committed against the Palestinian people' under British occupation, according to a letter seen exclusively by Metro.
Celebrities call for formal apology
Singer Paloma Faith and actor Juliet Stevenson are among those who want Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to formally say sorry for Britain's 'unlawful actions' during its occupation of Palestine from 1917 to 1948. They are backing a 400-page legal petition, submitted to the government last year, which alleges British forces broke international law during that period.
The activists, including Labour donor Dale Vince, urge Starmer to 'confront past wrongs' and 'signal that Britain is prepared to reckon with the consequences of its action.' The letter is part of the Britain Owes Palestine campaign, backed by Palestinian billionaire Munib Al Masri, who was shot by British soldiers as a boy.
Letter details alleged abuses
The group of actors, comedians and business chiefs write: 'From 1917 to 1948, British forces committed grave abuses against the Palestinian people: murder, torture, arbitrary detention, and the demolition of homes. Britain denied Arab self-determination while overseeing a transformation that saw the displacement of hundreds of thousands.'
They argue that the 'same abuses… are [being] suffered by Palestinians today', adding, 'it is a grim continuity that deepens, rather than diminishes, Britain's responsibility to act.'
Appeal to Starmer's background
The campaigners directly address Sir Keir's background as a human rights lawyer. They say he 'knows that confronting past wrongs is the foundation of any credible legal and moral order. Keir Starmer has the chance to acknowledge them on behalf of our country.'
The British government pledged a 'national home for the Jewish people' in Palestine in 1917. From 1920, the League of Nations granted Britain a mandate for Palestine, which required them to facilitate Jewish immigration and self-governance. The UK faced periodic violent uprisings and handed responsibility to the UN in 1948, leading to the establishment of the State of Israel.
Dale Vince urges further action
Multimillionaire Vince, one of the lead signatories, praised the government for recognising the State of Palestine last summer but argued they needed to go further. The eco-tycoon, who has donated to the Labour Party for years, told Metro: 'Britain tried to walk away and wash our hands of it. We acted illegally at the very start of this in the formation of Israel and Palestine. We committed war crimes as well. We were the original sin. The government should recognise the historic wrong.'
The letter is being published on Nakba Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians in 1948.
Petition and political support
It draws on a landmark 400-page legal petition submitted to the Government in September 2025 by the Britain Owes Palestine campaign. That document was drafted by human rights KCs Ben Emmerson and Danny Friedman alongside three distinguished academics. Alongside the petition, 45 MPs and peers from all parties signed an open letter calling on the British government to formally apologise. The Foreign Office does not routinely comment on petitions.
