What Labour's victory in UK election means for the Middle East


Thomas Harding
  • English
  • Arabic

Live updates: Follow the latest news on the UK general election

Keir Starmer’s first official briefing as Prime Minister after a landslide election victory is set to be held in a secure room with intelligence chiefs on the security threats facing the UK, one that could define Labour’s return to government.

The Middle East will play a significant role in that closed-door meeting, analysts and diplomats have told The National, with both opportunities and threats to be discussed, including growing fears of war between Hezbollah and Israel.

Gaza will clearly be a key issue but also one in which the new government could provide impetus for a deal, experts have said.

Iran will continue to prove a challenge, potentially an ever-increasing one with its developing nuclear weapons programme, as well as the possibility of a Donald Trump presidency that could release “trigger happy” Republicans on to the Middle East.

Foreign reshuffle

Mr Starmer's first major foreign policy act may well be to replace Foreign Secretary David Lammy with a more experienced hand, a Labour insider told The National.

“Many people in and around government think that it would be pretty unwise to keep him in post and Labour should really think about shifting it to someone who has a more nuanced view of the Gaza conflict, not a view that's going to lead to anything disastrous,” the former adviser said.

From left, Labour's Ed Miliband, Keir Starmer and David Lammy at the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai. Getty Images
From left, Labour's Ed Miliband, Keir Starmer and David Lammy at the Cop28 climate conference in Dubai. Getty Images

That someone may well be former international development secretary Douglas Alexander, although this is strongly denied by Labour.

“The question is what talents Starmer chooses to draw on, as Labour have been out of power for so long that it's front benches are a little bit short of real-world experience,” said former ambassador to Yemen, Edmund Fitton-Brown.

“You've got people like Douglas Alexander who could be used that way, especially if Starmer anticipates that the UK is going to face a number of difficult decisions in the foreign policy arena and face them fairly quickly.”

Lebanon looms

The speed at which world events develop could be lightning fast.

“Unless we're extraordinarily lucky, we're going to face some kind of blow up between Israel and Hezbollah and it's not going to be pretty,” said Mr Fitton-Brown.

If that happens, then the Yemeni Houthis will step up their Red Sea attacks, as will Iran via its proxies.

But more challenging will be whether Mr Starmer unequivocally backs Israel and the repercussions that might result from that among his pro-Palestinian MPs. In its manifesto, Labour said it would work to recognise Palestine a part of a renewed peace process.

Despite an outstanding majority, Labour was dented in its heartlands with independent candidates standing on a Gaza platform making inroads.

A destroyed car and houses in the heavily damaged Hezbollah stronghold town of Aita al Chaab, southern Lebanon. Getty Images
A destroyed car and houses in the heavily damaged Hezbollah stronghold town of Aita al Chaab, southern Lebanon. Getty Images

Gaza outcomes

If the Gaza conflict is resolved then the war with Lebanon will probably recede, yet current hopes of a ceasefire are distant.

But the new Labour administration has the opportunity to seize the initiative on an issue that has witnessed a “vacuum of western leadership” since the Hamas October 7 attacks, said Dr Sanam Vakil, of the Chatham House think tank.

A “dedicated envoy” with the clout that former foreign secretary David Cameron brought to the job, such as David Miliband, another former foreign secretary, could be one appointment.

“Britain certainly has an opportunity to lead the way, bringing together western partners working with countries across the region on Palestinian statehood and Israeli security,” said Dr Vakil. “And there's some great ideas but there should be some greater co-ordination and alignment between Washington, Whitehall and Europe on how they're going to move things forward.”

The potential return of Donald Trump should provide the incentive for the UK government to be “more robust and engaged” in finding a rapid solution, he added.

Michael Stevens, of the Rusi think tank, believes the first six months of a Starmer premiership “are going to be defined in the Middle East” in finding a solution to Gaza.

A man sits at a ruined building following Israeli strikes in Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip. Reuters
A man sits at a ruined building following Israeli strikes in Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza Strip. Reuters

One pitfall would be that if he is “not seen to be on the right side” by his large grouping of pro-Palestinian back benchers, he will feel increasing political pressure.

While there would be pressure for Labour to follow through on its commitment to recognise a Palestinian state, Mr Fitton-Brown argued that Mr Starmer was unlikely to follow the “gesture politics” of other European states.

Two-state principle

Dr Michael Milshtein, head of Palestinian studies at Tel Aviv University, urged the new Labour government to understand that a two-state solution cannot “really be implemented today”.

“It should be a ‘two-state principle’, which is actually separation, and that is the thing London should demand from Israel.”

He added that Mr Starmer assistance in the normalisation of relations between Israel and the Arab world “could be very helpful”.

Trump card

All Labour’s foreign policies could be turned on their heads with the possible return of Trump to the White House.

Republican hardliners within that administration will be “much more trigger happy” than previously, said Mr Fitton-Brown, speaking from New York.

Former US president Donald Trump could return to power. Reuters
Former US president Donald Trump could return to power. Reuters

“They will look at the Middle East and say, ‘we're going to start showing people who’s boss' and with Trump that's going to include things like assassinating the new equivalent target of people like Qassem Suleimani [former IRGC commander].”

Mr Stevens suggested a Trump administration’s policy on Iran will “turn very hawkish, very fast”, especially with Iran continuing with their uranium enrichment capabilities to “pretty threatening levels”.

There was little chance of a nuclear deal, in part because the Iranians did not trust the US system to honour one, given that Mr Trump dumped the previous agreement.

From Labour’s perspective, it was a question of would they contain Iran with sanctions or engage with it with an economic relationship, which he deemed unlikely.

Dr Vakil said for Labour to have “a greater portfolio of engagement” across the region “because there are a number of interconnected conflicts that haven't really been resolved”.

Instead these had been “contained” but unless areas such as Sudan, Syria and Libya were addressed they could significantly worsen.

Gulf economy

Dr Vakil said the Conservative government had been too focused on a “very commercially based relationships” with the Gulf that reflected its “inward facing outlook” post-Brexit.

“The Gulf remains our biggest economic focus, and probably the largest focus of diplomatic activity, whether that's through sending ministers or prioritising a free-trade agreement,” she said.

Britain should also be working with the Gulf states “to support their security concerns” and play a “bridging role” in the Iran relationship, she added.

But more importantly it could play a broader role in supporting Gulf security as “what's ultimately missing is a regional security framework and architecture” which was the “space that Labour could step up and into”.

Another quick win for Labour would be to reinstate the Middle East and North Africa ministerial post that was axed without explanation by Boris Johnson when he was prime minister in 2022.

Dubai Rugby Sevens

November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai

Gulf Under 19

Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy

Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2

Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina

Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School

'Falling%20for%20Christmas'
%3Cp%3EDirector%3A%20Janeen%20Damian%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3EStars%3A%20Lindsay%20Lohan%2C%20Chord%20Overstreet%2C%20Jack%20Wagner%2C%20Aliana%20Lohan%3Cbr%3E%3Cbr%3ERating%3A%201%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

The bio

Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France

Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines

Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.

Favourite Author: My father for sure

Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst

Netherlands v UAE, Twenty20 International series

Saturday, August 3 - First T20i, Amstelveen
Monday, August 5 – Second T20i, Amstelveen​​​​​​​
Tuesday, August 6 – Third T20i, Voorburg​​​​​​​
Thursday, August 8 – Fourth T20i, Vooryburg

Representing%20UAE%20overseas
%3Cp%3E%0DIf%20Catherine%20Richards%20debuts%20for%20Wales%20in%20the%20Six%20Nations%2C%20she%20will%20be%20the%20latest%20to%20have%20made%20it%20from%20the%20UAE%20to%20the%20top%20tier%20of%20the%20international%20game%20in%20the%20oval%20ball%20codes.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESeren%20Gough-Walters%20(Wales%20rugby%20league)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EBorn%20in%20Dubai%2C%20raised%20in%20Sharjah%2C%20and%20once%20an%20immigration%20officer%20at%20the%20British%20Embassy%20in%20Abu%20Dhabi%2C%20she%20debuted%20for%20Wales%20in%20rugby%20league%20in%202021.%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESophie%20Shams%20(England%20sevens)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EWith%20an%20Emirati%20father%20and%20English%20mother%2C%20Shams%20excelled%20at%20rugby%20at%20school%20in%20Dubai%2C%20and%20went%20on%20to%20represent%20England%20on%20the%20sevens%20circuit.%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFiona%20Reidy%20(Ireland)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3Cbr%3EMade%20her%20Test%20rugby%20bow%20for%20Ireland%20against%20England%20in%202015%2C%20having%20played%20for%20four%20years%20in%20the%20capital%20with%20Abu%20Dhabi%20Harlequins%20previously.%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: 2018 Ducati SuperSport S

Price, base / as tested: Dh74,900 / Dh85,900

Engine: 937cc

Transmission: Six-speed gearbox

Power: 110hp @ 9,000rpm

Torque: 93Nm @ 6,500rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 5.9L / 100km

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Updated: July 07, 2024, 9:38 AM`