Sophie Wiesenfeld

Jul 24, 2024 | newstatesman.com | Theo Zenou |Sophie Wiesenfeld

French politics had descended into a Gallic War of the Roses. Instead of English royal dynasties, our factions are the political parties competing for control of parliament, and our pretenders to the throne are the warring leaders of the French left. But, oddly enough, one English knight of the realm has crossed the Channel to take a starring role: Sir Keir Starmer. Some backstory: On 7 July, the left came out on top in France’s parliamentary elections.