Guido hears the awkward bromance between Starmer and Macron is on the rocks. The PM and his bag carriers tried repeatedly to organise a meeting with the French during the COP30 summit, only to be given the cold shoulder by Macron’s team. Numerous attempts were made by increasingly senior officials to call the French delegation and track them down. A government source tells Guido that the French “managed to effect the most amazing disappearing act”, with no meeting or call taking place. Macron’s David Copperfield act was reportedly very effective..
The FT reported Starmer had the same issue with Ursula Von Der Leyen, who also dodged his request for a meeting over the the EU’s money demands for the SAFE defence fund. The French are understood to be the driving force behind that (ridiculous) hard bargain, which would explain Macron’s evasiveness. Ghosted on the world stage…
Douglas Alexander – a friend of Starmer’s – was asked on Sky News if the PM will be in post at the next election. He wasn’t so sure himself:
“I think he will. There are no certainties but of course I think he will lead and I think he should because, frankly, on the biggest call in this parliament he’s exercised the right judgment, which is to keep us out of someone else’s war.”