Random Thoughts on Everything

LAMMY CHOPS

David Lammy … love, loath or find him meeeeh? Hands up, I’m not a fan.

He wouldn’t have been my pick for Foreign Secretary. I think he has the instincts of a terrier, pulling at people’s trouser legs and yapping, until finally someone took notice and threw a bone. Here you are, have the Foreign Office David, it’s yours … and good luck getting any walkies or treats out of that insufferable group of civil servants.

When it comes to answering questions in Parliament about the Middle East Lammy looks confused, mouth smiling, desperately jolly, but paired with eyes that are blank and absent, perhaps dreaming of a quick sandwich and a bag of crisps. Maybe wondering where he left his security detail, or just reminding himself to collect the dry cleaning. Or, considering if his missing Oyster card might have slipped down the side of the sofa in Kier’s office, and should he ask him to check?

I’ve thought often of Emily Damari’s British mother Mandy this week. She begged David Lammy to intervene on her daughter’s behalf, and he talked the talk, because how do you tell a desperate mother that you’re out of your depth and don’t have an open hotline to an evil terror group such as Hamas? What he didn’t need to do was immediately follow up that meeting with a public statement demanding a ceasefire as if Israel had sole responsibility for war with Gaza and the hostages were irrelevant. For many British Jews, the man showed an unforgivable lack of emotional depth, a lack of bravery, a forked tongue and cloth ears. When Emily Damari was released alive last weekend, he announced on social media that he would be removing from his office the plastic yellow flower (given him by Emily’s mum) he would be taking it home. Job done? Or was he removing an uncomfortable symbol of his and (to be fair) his predecessor’s impotence on the world stage? The UK has had a long, slow fall from Empire powerhouse to almost nobody. It could be argued that Stop The Hate and Tottenham’s football fans did more to keep Emily’s name in the public domain. ‘She’s one of our own, she’s one of own, Emily Damari, bring her home,’ they sang lustily from the terraces.

Back in the summer when Lammy called Trump a ‘tyrant in a toupee,’ he showed a good feel for comedy, plus a worrying lack of foresight. This was pre the 47th president of the United States landslide win. But even with the candidates neck and neck how clever did it feel to be calling Trump, a ‘deluded, dishonest, xenophobic narcissist?’ True or not, it should have occurred to Lammy and others in the Labour Party that ‘serial liar and cheat,’ might have been a step too far … and just a bit undiplomatic? Particularly foolish when last year we exported $6.77 billion worth of cars, £8.2 billion of pharmaceuticals, £5.3 billion power generators, £2.5 billion scientific instruments, plus approximately $120 billion other goods and services to our besties in the USA.

As everyone has heard many times, Trump is notoriously thin-skinned, and easily offended. Which explains why our Foreign Secretary has suddenly morphed into Uriah Heep and become ever so humble. Trump, he said recently, ‘has incredible grace and generosity.’ Trump is ‘very funny, very friendly, very warm about the UK.’ Busy tearing up Biden’s legacy with the energy of a teenager, it’s doubtful that Trump says or thinks much at all about David Lammy … it’s possible he doesn’t even remember his name.

More importantly, does Trump remember saying “all hell will break out,” if Hamas failed to return the hostages by his inauguration? There was no mention of him thinking three was okay, no suggestion that another four would make him happy. That drip-feeding the rest in return for hundreds of Hamas terrorists was acceptable. The president is now very much in the White House, and words do matter. If Lammy wants Trumps recognition he can remind The Donald that even as a world leader, it’s always best to think before you speak.

I’ll close with a message, that as an Arsenal supporter I hope never to say again … well done Tottenham, and thank you for your contribution in bringing Emily Damari home.

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