I was having a scroll on X when I came across an interesting scene. The Prime Minister, cramped in the back of the van, had been cajoled into playing The Smiths on an electric guitar by a Ukrainian soldier in camouflage. For those with a high tolerance for twee, it was touching: war heroes joined for an impromptu jam session by an international brother in their struggle, a British PM no less.

Clearly the entire scene had been contrived. What had been presented on social media as a spontaneous moment of affection from a Ukrainian trooper was fully orchestrated

Clearly the entire scene had been contrived. What had been presented on social media as a spontaneous moment of affection from a Ukrainian trooper was fully orchestrated

Andy Burnham played a bit of ‘Rusholme Ruffians’ from Meat is Murder, the choice of a Smiths connoisseur. Most politicians would kill for such a great video op, baby kissing of course being very passé. On any other day, I’d have scrolled past very quickly. Why waste thirty seconds cringe-watching? Yet the video brought back a conversation I’d had earlier that day, standing next to that very van in Kyiv.

It was Ukrainian Independence Day. Apart from those wearing traditional Vyshyvanka shirts, a smattering more of blue-and-yellow flags (a difficult feat given there’s probably already........

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