MPs were set to vote in favour of recognising the state of Palestine after a heated parliamentary debate last night.

But Prime Minister David Cameron’s official spokesman said that ministers would abstain in the vote and stressed that the government would not change its position even if the Commons voted in favour of recognition.

“The government’s position is very clear and hasn’t changed, so I think that is a very clear indication of the British government’s approach,” he told a regular Westminster media briefing.

“The government’s approach is a long-standing one and is in support of a two-state solution and we will continue to work with a range of international partners — Israel, the Palestinian Authority.”

Palestinian statehood has received huge public support following a summer of violence that saw Gaza pummelled by Israeli air strikes, including schools and hospitals, and more than 2,000 civilians massacred, most of them Palestinians.

Thousands of people heeded a Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) call to urge their local MP to support recognition.

Labour Friends of Palestine chairman Grahame Morris MP tabled the debate.

“Recognition of Palestinian statehood should form the basis of peace negotiations,” he said.

“We’ve neglected this for far too long.

“An entire generation of young Palestinians have grown up to witness a worse situation on the ground — a humanitarian crisis in Gaza of catastrophic proportions.”

He said that the online petition that initiated the bid for recognition had gained more than 111,000 signatures and that there were a number of other similar e-petitions that had gained tens of thousands of signatures in a relatively small space of time.

“We know that Gaza has been left devastated by the consequences of the conflict,” said Mr Morris. “We have seen the biggest annexation of Palestinian land in the West Bank for 30 years.

“There have been enormous protests, not just in London, but all across the UK — demonstrations, large public gatherings, meetings and protests.”

A vote on the issue is likely to cause splits in the parties.

Tory Baroness Warsi resigned from her post as Foreign Office Minister in August, accusing the government’s policy on Gaza as “morally indefensible.”

Green MP Caroline Lucas recognised that there was “unprecedented need to grasp the opportunity” following Sweden’s decision to recognise Palestine.

The debate continued at the time of going to press.