Can Starmer’s Palestinian pledge be more than symbolic gesture?

As Sir Keir Starmer made his address inside Number 10, I was standing outside in a noisy – deafening even – Downing Street.

Gaza protesters were making themselves more than heard with drums, sirens and whistles.

It was a visible, visceral demonstration of the public pressure the prime minister has come under to toughen his stance on Israel.

Public pressure, but also political pressure.

More than half of Labour backbench MPs signed a letter demanding the government recognises a Palestinian state.

Several ministers in the cabinet have been joining the lobbying behind the scenes.

In recent weeks there has been a hardening of the government’s language. Today a hardening of the government’s position.

And make no mistake. This is a big change in…