SHOTLIST: LONDON, UK (SEPT. 23, 2025) (ANADOLU - ACCESS ALL) 1. SCOTTLAND'S FIRST MINISTER, JOHN SWINNEY, SPEAKING TO REPORTER (English) 2. SCOTTISH NATIONAL PARTY'S WESTMINSTER LEADER, STEPHEN FLYNN, SPEAKING TO REPORTER (English)LONDON, UK - SEPT. 23: Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney has hailed the UK government’s recognition of Palestine as a state, calling it a “long overdue but welcome” move that must mark the beginning of a decisive shift in British foreign policy. On Sunday, the UK officially recognized Palestine, granting it full legal rights of statehood. The decision gives Palestine’s mission in London the full status of an embassy, along with the protections and privileges guaranteed under the Vienna Convention. The recognition comes amid a wave of international support: Canada, Australia and Portugal also extended recognition on Sunday, while France followed on Monday. Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, Andorra and San Marino are expected to do the same in the coming days. Speaking to Anadolu at a ceremony held at the Palestinian mission in London, Swinney said: “It has taken far too long to get to this position, but it must be a moment of real change in UK foreign policy, so there have to be practical steps now taken to ensure that the security of Palestine is assured, that we bring the genocide to an end, and that we support the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestine.” He stressed that recognition alone would not be enough. “There has to be a series of actions taken, starting with the end of the genocide, by bringing to an end arms sales to Israel, by bringing to an end the UK-Israel Free Trade Agreement, by ensuring the release of the hostages, so that we can take the steps to assure the security and the safety of the people of Palestine in the years to come. That is absolutely essential.” Swinney added that Sunday’s announcement must “be the start of a process of support and solidarity for the people of Palestine.” “We will be pressing the UK government to take a whole series of actions to advance these measures to end the genocide and to support the people of Palestine.” - ‘This can’t be the end of a journey’ Stephen Flynn, the Scottish National Party’s Westminster leader, described the recognition as “humbling” and said it was the product of years of persistent advocacy in Parliament. He said the push for recognition was driven by grim realities on the ground. UN investigators last week concluded that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, where it has now killed more than 65,300 Palestinians since October 2023. The onslaught has displaced hundreds of thousands alongside a blockade on humanitarian aid that has led to famine and claimed the lives of at least 442 Palestinians, including 147 children. “We’ve been making those arguments because of the genocide that’s happening, our opposition to it, and the fact that we need to recognize a state whilst there could still be one – much to the frustration of others in the Middle East, Israel in particular, who oppose it,” said Flynn. Like Swinney, he warned against treating recognition as an end point. “This can’t be the end of a journey. It just has to be the start of a journey. It has to be the start of a movement that sees us end arms sales and the use of planes, increase sanctions and diplomatic support, and ensure that there’s peace in Palestine for generations to come. That’s our responsibility.”