David Lammy’s Labour lament

Foreign affairs is a difficult brief, demanding tact, sober judgement and discretion of the highest order. So who best to embody all these qualities than Labour’s recently promoted man of the hour, David Lammy? The Shadow Foreign Secretary made his first diplomatic foray this week while appearing at this year’s Limmud festival, a Jewish event where he attempted to atone for the sins of his past. 

The Talleyrand of Tottenham apologised to his audience for being one of the 35 Labour MPs to nominate Jeremy Corbyn for leader in 2015, declaring that ‘If I knew what I do now, I never would have nominated him… I never believed he would become leader. That was a mistake and I am sorry for that.’ Criticising antisemitism within the party, Lammy claimed he was ‘staggered’ that some individuals with such views remain in the party, but added he was ‘fully behind’ Keir Starmer’s leadership, saying: ‘I don’t believe the overall culture is toxic any more … but until the party is genuinely welcome for everyone, we remain on a journey.