Starmer walks political tightrope on Gaza

In his speech on Gaza, Sir Keir Starmer sought to lift his sights beyond the immediate conflict by focusing, in part, on a future Labour government’s commitment to a two-state solution – Israel and a viable Palestinian state existing side by side.

This is in line with the Labour leader’s oft-stated aversion to short-term fixes and “sticking plaster politics” – the Middle East’s problems, he argued, have not received enough attention from the international community.

Conveniently, this position allowed him to distance himself from the right-wing Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu.

It also allowed him to stress that there was widespread agreement in his own party on the longer term goal.

But his speech didn’t – and couldn’t – ignore not just the current conflict in the Middle East but the conflict in his own ranks.

And he is facing considerable jeopardy.

He has to walk a political tightrope – balancing support for Israel against Hamas with the need to respond to growing calls for a ceasefire.

He explained why he is backing a humanitarian “pause” – in line with the EU and US, to allow for more aid – rather than a ceasefire, which he said would embolden Hamas and allow them to plan future attacks.

But crucially, his tone towards pro-ceasefire voices in his own ranks was tolerant – saying that he understood what was driving them.

He may have little choice in this, as otherwise he’d have to sack 14 shadow ministers who come from across Labour’s political spectrum, and some of whom represent substantial Muslim communities.

His tone towards the Israeli government was also more sceptical.

He denounced illegal settlements in the West Bank, and said Israel’s right to self defence was not a “blank cheque”.

While he signalled that pro-ceasefire frontbenchers seemed to be safe from the sack, Sir Keir, of course, suspended the former shadow minister Andy McDonald from the parliamentary party – which has outraged the left.

But the bigger danger is that by not straying from his opposition to a ceasefire – at least “at this stage” – some shadow ministers beyond the left come under renewed pressure from members and communities to resign, sparking a potential chain reaction.

So far the policy of engaging with, rather than eradicating, dissent has maintained a degree of unity.

And no-one in any of the top positions in the party has strayed from the leader’s line.

But the situation in the wider party is volatile – and opponents will be keen to highlight any divisions.

So the reaction to Tuesday’s speech will be important.

It will determine whether a fragile unity can be maintained, or if it will splinter or shatter.

— Reports /TrainViral/