London flag-raising at embassy marks ‘long overdue step’ for Palestinians

Ambassador welcomes historic event with MPs keen to be seen, while minister faces heckling from awkward crowd

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The flag raising event to mark Britain’s recognition of the Palestinian state was running a little late at London’s newest embassy. Over a century late it might be argued.

The formalities had been due to kick off at 11am outside what had been known as the Palestinian Mission to the UK but there was a problem: too many VIPs.