Thursday, October 9, 2025

Keir Starmer was asked at his news conference in India about the role played in the Gaza peace deal by his predecessor, Tony Blair. The prime minister said: "I'm less interested, to be perfectly frank, in discussions about personnel, than I am in getting it implemented."

It was striking that there was no mention of Blair in Starmer's statement welcoming the breakthrough. 

But at least Starmer did recognise Blair's role, if not by name, telling the news conference: "The UK has played an important part behind the scenes in relation to these negotiations, working with the US and mediators, and we stand ready to play our part in implementing this again, with others as we go forward."

I wrote last week about Blair's self-belief and why the world should be grateful that he has managed to put together a plan that has won the support of Donald Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, seven Arab nations – and now Hamas. 

Bel Trew, our chief international correspondent, writes about what might happen next. 

Kemi Badenoch came top and Robert Jenrick second in the final MPs' ballot for the Tory leadership a year ago today: by how many votes did she beat him?

Answer at the bottom of today's email 

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QUOTATION OF THE DAY

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!

Donald Trump ends his announcement of a Gaza deal in capital letters

Quiz answer: One – Badenoch 42, Jenrick 41 (James Cleverly, who had been in the lead in the previous ballot, 37)

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