UK politicians from both the Conservative and Labour parties have welcomed the government's decision to back Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara. They praised the move as a significant step forward for UK-Morocco relations and called for further collaboration across key sectors. On Sunday, June 1, the United Kingdom became the third permanent member of the United Nations Security Council to formally back Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, following France and the United States. London shifted from a neutral stance on the conflict to recognizing the plan, first proposed by the Kingdom in 2007, as the «most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute». This long-awaited move was widely celebrated by politicians from both the UK Labour Party and Conservative Party, as well as by some Irish politicians. A move celebrated by UK politicians In a tweet following the announcement, British politician Liam Fox hailed the decision, writing that the UK has «finally grasped that the Moroccan initiative on Western Sahara is the only game in town and caught up with our American and some European allies». Fox, a Conservative who served as Secretary of State for International Trade and earlier for Defence, emphasized that «it is time to maximize the opportunity and to call on all UK allies, including our Commonwealth partners, to join us in this liberating quest. The prizes are enormous and the opportunities historic». (1/2) The UK has finally grasped that the Moroccan initiative on Western Sahara is the only game in town and caught up with our American and some European allies. ???? — Sir Liam Fox (@LiamFox) June 1, 2025 A long-time advocate of the Moroccan autonomy plan, Fox had previously compared the Polisario Front to «Hamas and Hezbollah» and urged Western governments to designate it as a terrorist organization. From the Labour Party, MP Joseph Edward Powell also welcomed the government's support for the autonomy plan, stating he was pleased to «see this significant step forward in the UK-Morocco partnership». Powell, who chairs the «Labour Friends of Morocco» group launched in January to strengthen ties between Morocco and the UK's Labour Party, highlighted that the partnership also supports «economic growth, energy, and of course the 2030 World Cup». As Chair of Labour Friends of Morocco I am really pleased to see this significant step forward in the UK-Morocco partnership, including supporting Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, economic growth, energy and of course the 2030 World Cup https://t.co/F0owAKMPci — Joe Powell MP (@josephpowell) June 1, 2025 Former Conservative Minister for the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, David Lidington, described Sunday's move as a «significant and welcome agreement between the UK and Morocco». A significant & welcome agreement between UK & Morocco, inc recognising Moroccan autonomy plan for W Sahara as "the most credible, viable and pragmatic basis for a lasting resolution of the dispute" https://t.co/j8p4fro5FK — David Lidington (@DLidington) June 1, 2025 The move was also celebrated among Irish politicians. Former Minister for Justice of Ireland Charles Flanagan said «important and welcome news from Morocco as its autonomy proposal is seen as most credible, viable and pragmatic basis» to settle the dispute by the UK. Other Irish politicians also tweeted on the news. Moroccan Sahara: UK Considers Morocco's Autonomy Proposal as Most Credible, Viable & Pragmatic Basis to Settle This Dispute, Intends to Act Bilaterally, Regionally & Internationally in Line with This Positionhttps://t.co/6pO64CE00j — Sen Paul Daly (@senatorpauldaly) June 1, 2025 British MPs push finally heard The British decision follows pressure from several politicians demanding that the UK align its position on Western Sahara with other European countries. In September 2024, Conservative MP Andrew Murrison submitted two written questions to Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government, asking whether the UK is considering aligning its support for Morocco's autonomy plan with the diplomatic positions of the USA, Israel, Spain, and France, and whether the government has assessed obstacles to recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. Earlier that year, thirty British parliamentarians and Lords sent a letter to then-Foreign Secretary David Cameron urging support for Morocco's autonomy plan. In addition to endorsing the Sahara autonomy plan, the UK and Morocco signed a series of landmark agreements to strengthen cooperation across critical sectors and drive mutual growth and innovation, spanning education, health, defense, and more.
