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Starmer’s spinner squirms on Netanyahu arrest

Photo by Matthew Horwood/Getty Images

It’s a day ending in ‘y’ – so it’s more bad news for the government. This afternoon the men and women of HM Loyal Press Gallery trooped over to No. 10 for their lobby briefing with Starmer’s superannuated spinners. Unfortunately, it seems, no-one in the ever-expanding comms team had actually worked out a line on the International Criminal Court’s decision to issue an arrest warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu. Whoops!

A spokesman for the Prime Minister insisted that the government ‘respects’ the ‘independence’ of the ICC but that it is now a ‘domestic legal process’. So, what exactly does said process entail? It turns out that, er, no-one is exactly sure. The hapless spokesman declined to give any details about what the ‘domestic legal process’ entailed and insisted that No. 10 would not ‘comment’ on hypotheticals about whether the Israeli premier would be cuffed by cops if he came to Britain.

It’s worth remembering that Richard Hermer – Starmer’s hand-picked choice of an Attorney General – has previously said the UK would abide with the ICC. He told the Financial Times last month that ‘This government is determined not to do anything that undermines the work of the ICC’, adding ‘As with any individual and any scenario relating to the ICC we would comply with our lawful obligations.’

Guess that rules out London for Bibi’s next choice of holiday destination…

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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