Keir Starmer is sounding 'almost Conservative' on Israel | Andrew Marr | The New Statesman

"As the conservatives become more and more and more pro-Israel, in a weird way, they sort of draw Starmer a little bit more onto their territory."

Does Lebanon have a right to self-defence and will Britain support it in exercising that?

Rachel Cunliffe, Andrew Marr, and George Eaton answer a listener's question on the recent escalation in the Middle East.

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[will]

Well Andrew Marr did assure us that under Labour, the Grown Ups were back in charge.

Does he still believe this?

[charliecroker]

He is an embarrassment, much like our media who report this conflict. Lebanon has a right to defend itself, much like the Palestinians have a right to resist. Tell me who would not resist?

[evildude]

Maybe we should consider regardless of the question of whether Israel invading Lebanon counts as invading Lebanon (spoiler alert, yes it does) should we permit tens of thousands of civilian deaths and the displacement of millions as a crime against humanity, using the definitions we in the UK helped to write.

[ItsMeBenson]

Why does opposition to the crimes of the Israeli government have anything to do with antisemitism? Speaking as a black man, if I went out and murdered someone you’re not racist for calling me a murderer and wanting me to go to prison. You’re only racist if you start calling me a murderer *because* I’m black.

I don’t hear anyone talking about the faith of the people committing these war crimes. The criticism of the Israel has nothing to do with Judaism, this is about genocide, brutality and breaking international law. Hamas have done it too on a much smaller scale but we are not supporting Hamas, we are supporting Israel and it should be stopped.

[sjt]

Starmer is sounding shamefully like a Conservative on a whole range of issues. Why he's a member of the Labour party is an absolute mystery.

[richardjames]

The ONLY flag that should be flown at ANY entry points into the UK should be the Union flag

[brianferguson]

Every "Israeli" interviewed in the media always speaks with an American or English accent. But Palestinian, Lebanese, or Jordanians have accents of the country of their birth. I wonder why ?

[Wulfuswulferson]

Almost conservative on Israel, on the NHS, on the economy, on welfare, on infrastructure, on the environment...

[briandelaney]

I really wonder what Barbara Castle would have said about this lot

[nastropc]

3:13 “…restored funding to [UNRWA] who some accused of being implicated in the 7th October attacks”
This framing suggests the UK government has shifted to a pro-October 7th stance, without making clear the ‘some’ making the accusations are the Netanyahu administration, evidence offered for these accusations was widely found to be unconvincing by UK media organisations, and every European country that paused has now restored their UNRWA funding.

[inquaanate]

I've not heard any policy from this man that would make me think we have a new party and a new government in power.

[lesleypatriciajordison]

Why is no one prepared to ask the obvious question? Why might Starmer not be absolutely impartial in this?

[mah]

Andrew your grovelling for Israel is getting a bit pathetic now

[rafaeldegiacomoaraujo]

Once again the NS struggles with international policy discussions significantly. It may be better to call guests to talk about international policy topics.

[GamerXX]

I think the West really need to come to grips with the fact that Israel shouldn't have special support, and the political Left needs to start putting the time and effort into adjusting public perception on Israel, else governments won't be able to really apply pressure to an agitator Israel.

[tompearce]

Maybe it's in a longer clip but you make no mention of Starmer having Jewish family ties and family in Israel. No matter how impartial one would try to be, it would be hard not to take sides when one's family was impacted.

[AB-zlnh]

3:58 is utterly shameful to confuse the Israeli government, Israeli people, and British Jews.

[donkeytonk]

The UK just mirrors American's defence policy. Now even more so after Brexit

[Booglarizemebaby]

Who will come to the rescue of Palestine and Lebanon? Isreal has violated a sovereign state & is committing genocide. Politicians look inept in the face of a humanitarian crisis. So do many ‘journalists with their polite coffee table repose on this existential matter. Labour resetting back to 2003 with their foreign policy approach. Strap in everybody the centrists are back in charge😩

[GeoffV-kh]

The massacres of women and children in the two refugee camps in 1982 mentioned here were carried out by Christian militia but were allied to Israel's forces who had control over the area, fully supported the massacres and ensured the Christian forces could carry out their terror without interruption and away form the eyes of the media.