31 UK MPs, Lords urge Cameron to support Moroccan autonomy plan

More than thirty British lawmakers and Lords urged the Foreign Secretary, David Cameron to recognize the Morocco’s Autonomy Plan immediately.

Terming the autonomy plan as the most viable solution to the Western Sahara conflict, the MPs and Lords in a letter sent to the Foreign Secretary on May 23 said that the autonomy initiative proposed by Morocco for Western Sahara, balanced with respect for local traditions and democratic aspirations, offers a practical path toward lasting peace and stability.

“In the landscape of international relations and geopolitical stability, few areas present as critical an opportunity for positive influence and mutual benefit as Morocco's Western Sahara. Amid the vast turmoil we are witnessing globally, it has become more crucial than ever for the UK to strengthen its alliances with stable, like-minded nations to promote regional stability and international security. Morocco stands paramount among these partner nations, it is a top strategic ally in North Africa, with shared values and perspectives crucial to both our countries,” they said in the letter signed by 31 MPs and Lords.

They pointed out that the dangerous escalations and catastrophic effects of conflict in the Middle East intensified the spread of terrorism and extremism, providing an opportunity for hostile militias to broaden their ideological reach and influence beyond their own borders.

The Western Sahara region offers a promising opportunity for progress and stability: but this could be put at risk if we do not resolve this issue quickly and pragmatically, they said.

“In addition, the Western Sahara region has the potential to significantly enhance energy opportunities, secure supply chains, and enable access to new markets,” the lawmakers and Lords said in the letter.

Some of the. had the opportunity to visit Morocco, including the Western Sahara, and gained valuable, eye-opening firsthand insights into the vast potential and opportunities that exist both for the local community and for the United Kingdom.

“Our observations, coupled with insights from respected scholars like Professor Marc Weller Cambridge University's Chair of International Law and International Constitutional Studies on the international legal framework, reinforce our conviction that the United Kingdom must provide proactive support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan,” they said.

With broad backing from UK´s Western allies and more than 80 countries worldwide, the initiative is heralded as the most practical and pragmatic path to stability, emphasizing that it is time to move beyond inertia.

“Today, we have the opportunity to adopt a realistic and pragmatic approach. It is essential for our leadership to recognize that following the example set by our main allies is indeed the right course of action,” they said in the letter.

“The upcoming UK-Morocco strategic dialogue presents a singular occasion for the United Kingdom to redefine its role and influence in the region. Morocco deserves our unequivocal and complete support; it is our responsibility, and the security of the region urgently demands it,” the MPs and Lords added in the letter.

The signatories of the letter are The Rt. Hon Sir Liam Fox MP, Flick Drummond MP, Lord Udny-Lister, Paul Scully MP, Daniel Kawczynski MP, Lord Mott, Lord Hannan, Lord Goddard, Mark Garnier MP, Lord Kilclooney, Heather Wheeler MP, Gary Sambrook MP, Rehman Christi MP, Kevin Foster MP, The Rt. Hon Sir Brandon Lewis MP, Lord Mann, Anthony Mangnall MP, Lord Pickles, Lord Arbuthnot, Lord Brennan, Royston Smith MP, Baroness Finn, Baroness Neville-Jones, Lord Elliot, Lord Maude, Lord Swire, Lord Polak, Baroness Uddin, Lord Mendelsohn, Fabian Hamilton MP and Lord Bellingham.