How Biden's gaffes derailed Starmer's first big moment

Keir Starmer knew that his first post-summit press conference as prime minister was always going to be an important moment.

- DAVID MADDOX

After a good, solid first international outing since the election victory, where he had been warmly welcomed by fellow world leaders at Nato, Starmer needed to cap off his trip to Washington DC with an equally good, solid performance at the microphone in front of journalists.

Few people appreciate how much preparation goes into what often appear to be perfunctory occasions, but on the plane home, Starmer shared with journalists that in between a succession of bilaterals and Nato council meetings, he and his team had planned for all possible questions.

It all seemed straightforward, and then, as often occurs, the unexpected happened.

Immediately before the press conference Starmer had lined up with fellow Nato member leaders on the stage behind Joe Biden to welcome the hero of the event.

And then...

"President Putin!" the US president announced, with a clearly embarrassed-looking Ukrainian president Voldymyr Zelensky standing next to him waiting to go up to the podium.

In fairness to Starmer he did not flinch at the shock of the moment which sent reverberations around the world and has caused an eruption in US politics. He simply applauded in a kind of robotic reaction.

But what was going on in his head was far different. "You know you just have to tear it all up," he admitted in relation to his detailed press conference preparation.

So sure enough, Starmer suddenly faced a succession of searching questions on the health of the US president and whether he was fit to be the leader of the free world.