Why the war in Gaza came to Oxford
The city’s Labour council is haunted by the ghosts of the conflict, and by Jeremy Corbyn.
ByKeir Starmer
Keir Rodney Starmer is a Labour Party politician who became Prime Minister on 5 July 2024. He has been MP for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015 and leader of Labour since April 2020. Starmer, born in 1962, studied law at the University of Leeds and Oxford, then became a barrister specialising in human rights. In 2008 he was appointed director of public prosecutions, for a five-year term. Find news, comment, and analysis about him here.
The Labour revolt over the Gaza war
Keir Starmer is facing the biggest crisis of his leadership.
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Keir Starmer struggles to disguise Labour’s divides
The Labour leader refused to say whether he would sack shadow ministers for backing a Gaza ceasefire.
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Will Muslim voters turn against Labour over Gaza?
Recent history shows that Muslims are prepared to defect from Labour to elsewhere – including to the Conservatives.
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Keir Starmer has lost control of Labour’s message on Gaza
Thirteen frontbenchers have defied the party line – but they won’t be punished.
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Will Labour unity break over the Israel-Hamas war?
More than 20 councillors have resigned and 150 have petitioned the party leadership.
Keir Starmer under pressure as senior Labour figures back Gaza ceasefire
Andy Burnham, Sadiq Khan and Anas Sarwar have all publicly opposed the Labour leader’s position.
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Labour and Israel: a fraught history
Keir Starmer’s woes over the Middle East recall those of Tony Blair in 2006.
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Starmer wants to tie himself as closely as possible to Joe Biden
It reflects the Labour leader’s commitment to international and domestic consensus over foreign policy.
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PMQs today: Rishi Sunak changes his line on Gaza
The Prime Minister said he supported “specific pauses” to allow humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.
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The Labour revolt over Keir Starmer’s Gaza policy is spreading
Shadow cabinet ministers have privately warned that the party risks losing Muslim voters if it appears callous.
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Danger still lies ahead for Labour
As the party celebrates its by-election triumphs, the Middle East could yet upend British politics.
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Labour’s two by-election victories put the party in landslide territory
The Tories may now call an election as late as January 2025 as they bid to avoid one of the…
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Can Keir Starmer hold Labour together on Israel?
Party insiders believe Starmer should have taken a more balanced approach in his early interviews.
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Why I always do business over breakfast
Also this week: the blue suit brigade, conference karaoke.
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Letter of the week: Changing the future in the Middle East
Write to letters@newstatesman.co.uk to have your thoughts voiced in the New Statesman magazine.
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Will “shy Labour” voters decide the Tamworth by-election?
Keir Starmer’s party overturning a Tory majority of nearly 20,000 would upset a major political trend in the Midlands.
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Why isn’t Keir Starmer afraid of building on the green belt?
Shifts in voting patterns mean that building rather than blocking housing is now in Labour’s electoral interests.
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Labour is betting on the private sector for net zero
At the party’s conference this week, Labour tried to square the circle of fiscal discipline and necessary investment for the…
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The seven lessons of Labour conference
Beyond Keir Starmer, two main camps have emerged in the party: one led by Rachel Reeves, the other by Wes…
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