UK (Parliament Politics Magazine) – UK Middle East minister Hamish Falconer said ex-PM Tony Blair should join US President Donald Trump’s proposed Gaza peace plan to help secure lasting stability.
As reported by The Independent, Hamish Falconer has backed calls for Sir Tony Blair to join the committee managing Gaza once the second phase of the peace deal is finalised.
What did Hamish Falconer say about the Gaza ceasefire?
Amid concerns over the durability of the Gaza ceasefire, Minister Hamish Falconer praised Tony Blair’s leadership qualities.
Mr Falconer, overseeing North Africa and the migrant crisis, insisted that Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s decision to slash foreign aid has not fueled illegal crossings into Europe or the UK.
Referring to the ongoing situation in Gaza, he stated,
“I think Tony Blair obviously has a huge amount of experience, both in the Middle East, and on disarmament issues from the IRA.”
The Middle East minister said,
“He clearly has a real contribution to make. The questions around phase 2 are to be negotiated, and we want to make sure that the peace board works for everybody. But obviously, Tony Blair has a real contribution to make.”
The ex-diplomat, now MP for Lincoln, warned that phase one of the Gaza peace plan cannot be taken for granted amid allegations of violations by both Israel and Hamas.
He stated,
“It is absolutely vital that the ceasefire remains in place and that we move on to the really important questions in phase 2. “
Mr Falconer said,
“I know incredibly intimately how important that ceasefire is, both for the people of Gaza, for those we’re trying to support through medical evacuations and other things, for the stability and security it can give to Israel and the whole region to know that this war, which has been so destructive, has come to an end.”
The minister added,
“Clearly, the phase 1 issues, the ceasefire questions, are not everything. They’re hugely important. But we need to move on to the to the questions in phase two, and those are the ones which the peace board, the technical committee for Gaza, all of those more complex questions that are set out in the 20 point plan are really very relevant.”
What did Hamish Falconer say about North Africa and migration?
The minister highlighted his responsibilities covering North Africa and migration while speaking from a migrant processing centre in Algeria.
Hamish Falconer warned that the past government’s ‘stop the boats’ slogan failed to address the complexity of the issue.
The Middle East minister rejected claims that the reduction of foreign aid has contributed to worsening the migrant crisis.
Mr Falconer said,
“I used to deliver international aid, and I would just say on that which I am a big believer in the importance of aid, and we’ve been really proud as the Middle East minister to protect the aid to Gaza, for example, which has been so vital and necessary.”
He stated,
“We’ve also ringfenced aid for Sudan, given the severity of the situation there. But I would also say I lived in South Sudan, for example, for two years.”
The former diplomat said,
“We’ve also ringfenced aid for Sudan, given the severity of the situation there. But I would also say I lived in South Sudan, for example, for two years.”
Mr Falconer added,
“It’s one of the poorest places in the world but it is not South Sudanese, overwhelmingly, who are on the boats. They’re, in fact, a much smaller proportion of the population than, for example, much wealthier countries like there are a lot of Iraqi Kurds who makes the journey in Iraqi Kurdistan.”
He stated,
“Kurdistan is by no means anywhere near as impoverished as some of the other places. So it’s not that I’m not disputing the importance of the a budget and the contribution that upstream work can make.”
The minister continued,
“But I think we do also need to be focused on the flows as they actually are, and it’s certainly when you look at the top five, top 10 countries of origin of people on small boats, they aren’t necessarily the five poorest almost war torn country. So I am really interested in the precise mechanisms of these flows and what we can do to crack down on them.”
How is Keir Starmer reshaping UK foreign aid spending?
Sir Keir Starmer plans to slash overseas aid to its historic low as a percentage of national income, despite potential savings on asylum housing costs.
The Prime Minister announced Britain’s foreign aid will drop from 0.5% to 0.3% of gross national income by 2027, while in 2023, £4.3bn, or 28% of aid, went to housing asylum seekers.
Britain spent 0.7% of national income (~£15.2bn) on overseas aid up to 2020, 0.5% (~£15bn) in 2021-24, and plans 0.3% (~£8.2bn) in 2025/26, rising slightly to ~£9.4bn by 2027/28.
What role could Tony Blair play in the Gaza peace plan?
Donald Trump’s Gaza plan includes a “Board of Peace” chaired by him, featuring distinguished leaders, with Tony Blair the only name confirmed.
The former UK prime minister has been involved in Gaza discussions, with a source confirming his August White House meetings with Trump adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner and other officials.
Mr Blair’s think tank staff have reportedly taken part in plans to transform Gaza into a “Trump Riviera,” including a manufacturing zone named after Elon Musk.
As UK prime minister, he helped negotiate the 1998 Northern Ireland peace accord, later served as a Middle East envoy, and now heads a London think tank.
What is Donald Trump’s plan for Gaza?
- The plan calls for an immediate ceasefire and hostage exchange.
- All hostages held by Hamas would be released within 72 hours.
- Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails would be freed next.
- Hamas must be fully disarmed and barred from Gaza governance.
- Gaza would be run by a temporary technocratic committee under Trump’s Board of Peace.
- An international force would train police, secure borders, and support Gaza’s economic development.
When did the Gaza war start, and how many have died?
The war began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel.
As of late October 2025, the number of reported fatalities is over 71,200. This figure includes over 69,236 Palestinians and 1,983 Israelis.
Donald Trump proposed a peace plan for Gaza that included a ceasefire, but Israel has violated it multiple times, accusing Hamas of breaching the agreement.