Kemi Badenoch’s spokesman refused to condemn proposals by Donald Trump to “take over” Gaza and expel its citizens to other countries in the region, saying that the Conservative party leader wanted to “see more details of what is being proposed”.

In a briefing with journalists, Badenoch’s spokesman refused repeated requests to distance the party from the President’s suggestion that the US would take a “long-term ownership position” of Gaza, after which Palestinians would have “no alternative” but to leave the country.

Pushed by Byline Times to reiterate the Conservative party’s longstanding support for a two-state solution in the Middle East, Badenoch’s spokesman refused, saying “I’m not going to get into that now”.

He also declined the opportunity to repeat UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s insistence that Palestinians “must be allowed home” to Gaza, saying that “I’m not going to get into the geopolitics of Israel”.