The British government has reiterated its firm support for Morocco’s autonomy plan as a credible and pragmatic solution to the regional dispute over the Kingdom’s southern provinces.
This position was reaffirmed by Baroness Chapman of Darlington, the UK Minister for Development, during a debate at the House of Lords, where she underlined that London continues to view the Moroccan initiative as the “right and pragmatic solution” given the protracted nature of the conflict and the realities on the ground.
“We believe that it (the autonomy plan) was the right and pragmatic solution, given the duration of the conflict and the current situation. I think it was the right decision to make,” Baroness Chapman said.
She emphasized that the United Kingdom remains “extremely close to our Moroccan friends” and expressed hope that this approach would help bring lasting peace and stability to the region as a whole.
The minister added that Britain’s position stems from a practical and transparent approach to its partnership with Morocco. “The United Kingdom is acting pragmatically, as I mentioned, but also in line with our commitments to Morocco and, above all, with full transparency,” she said.
This renewed stance comes months after the UK officially endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan through a joint communiqué issued last June, following a visit to Rabat by former Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
That statement had described the Moroccan proposal as “the most credible, viable, and pragmatic basis” for achieving a lasting and peaceful resolution to the regional conflict over the Moroccan Sahara.
