The Prime Minister is in Egypt today at a peace summit aimed at ending the Gaza war. The question of whether he deserves any credit for the ceasefire is a contentious one. Some within Labour will claim that British recognition of a Palestinian state proved to Israel that it was alienating its allies. British officials argue that this country has performed some useful functions in the conflict.

After the felling of Powell’s close friend Peter Mandelson, the Tories clearly smell blood

Operational intelligence gathering and hostage negotiations are two examples cited by Whitehall staff. Britain’s longstanding relationships with key Gulf States like Jordan and Saudi Arabia is credited with helping secure agreement on Donald Trump’s 20-point plan and move it forward from phase one to phase two. Next week, Jordan’s Abdullah II will visit the UK: the Foreign Office believe that such ties are key to encouraging the Gulf States to contribute towards collective security.

Influence, though, is not the same as power. Clearly, it is Trump and the Americans who have made much of the running on this ceasefire. With ministers unwilling to publicly divulge many details,........

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