Ten days after Hamas had launched its devastating attack on Israel, Keir Starmer prepared to meet his shadow cabinet, in part to discuss the party’s handling of the issue.
The Labour leader had won plaudits from the right for his staunch defence of Israel, insisting the country had a right to defend itself from attacks from Gaza, and refusing to speak up against some of Israel’s military tactics in the region. And while some Labour councillors had quit in protest, Starmer had avoided any high-profile rebellions from within the parliamentary party.
