Britain’s failing statecraft

I mentioned some weeks ago that one of the great points of interest – not to say enjoyment – in our era will be seeing how Keir Starmer’s government copes with the incoming Donald Trump administration in Washington. It is fair to say that many Labour MPs, not to mention the mayor of London (who spends more time grandstanding abroad than he does addressing violent crime in his own city), have been wildly impolitic. If there are two candidates in the running to lead your most important ally it would seem prudent for a wise man to keep his diplomatic options open. Alas, Westminster does not appear to be flooded by wise men.

In any case, an early example of the problem has just emerged, not in London or Washington, but in New York. Specifically at the favourite meeting place of despots and failed hopes – the United Nations on First Avenue.

This week the outgoing Biden administration has allowed a resolution to go to the Security Council which calls for an immediate ceasefire in the Middle East. Since the Houthis in Yemen do not listen to the Security Council, Hamas are never condemned by the Security Council and Hezbollah have built their arsenal under the eyes of the United Nations’ laughable ‘peacekeeping force’ in Lebanon, the resolution has only one enemy in its sights: Israel.

The latest resolution calls for an immediate ceasefire and then the return of all Israeli hostages. It also calls for all parties to abide by their obligations under international law. Though again one might note that neither the Revolutionary Islamic Government in Tehran nor any of their terror proxies have ever displayed any great interest in the jurisdiction of the international courts.