Britain | Bagehot

Labour’s screw-ups reveal how the party will govern Britain

Palestine, plagiarism and power

Keir Starmer riding a snail
Image: Nate Kitch

For a barrister, Sir Keir Starmer is surprisingly slow on his feet. The Labour leader had an illustrious career at the Bar but can struggle under light interrogation. When Israel launched its assault on Gaza in response to Hamas’s attack on October 7th, Sir Keir was asked a seemingly simple question during a radio interview: “A siege is appropriate? Cutting off power, cutting off water, Sir Keir?” Sir Keir replied: “I think Israel does have that right.”

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This article appeared in the Britain section of the print edition under the headline “Scratching the veneer”

From the November 4th 2023 edition

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