Britain’s Foreign secretary tells critics Labour’s approach on handling the Gaza conflict was wrong

Britain’s Foreign secretary Ed Miliband will tell campaigners and party members who raised the plight of Palestinians they were right that Labour’s approach had not been enough, saying he was heeding the calls of millions of people by imposing sanctions on Israeli settlements.

He stated he would ensure Labour is going to take more explicitly progressive foreign policy positions under Andy Burnham, and that the UK will be a leader among like-minded countries in a new age of diplomacy.

Since becoming foreign secretary, Miliband has announced sweeping sanctions on trade with Israeli settlements against a backdrop of increasing settler violence in the West Bank, which has resulted in 12 countries – including France and Canada – announcing they would also impose sanctions.

Miliband will also pay tribute to those who have campaigned against the Israeli onslaught in Gaza, though his warm words are likely to raise questions about whether the government will review the proscription of Palestine Action, when police arrested a number of demonstrators outside the conference hall on Sunday.