Keir Starmer ‘will settle for provide’ to take a seat on Donald Trump’s board to run Gaza – as Tony Blair is sidelined

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to accept an offer to sit on Donald Trump‘s new ‘Board of Peace’ to run Gaza following October’s ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.

As part of his 20-point peace plan for the Middle East, Mr Trump has proposed a new international transitional body to oversee the redevelopment of Gaza.

The US President will head and chair the Board of Peace alongside other world leaders, with Sir Keir reportedly poised to take up an offer to join.

A senior British official told The Times the group’s first meeting is expected to happen next week during the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

When the White House first unveiled Mr Trump’s 20-point peace plan, there were plans for ex-prime minister Sir Tony Blair to sit on the Board of Peace.

But the former Labour premier is now expected to join a separate ‘executive board’ following claims Middle Eastern states have objected to full membership for Sir Tony.

During his time in Downing Street, Sir Tony committed British troops to the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

At the weekend, Mr Trump told reporters that the Board of Peace was in the process of being formed.

Sir Keir Starmer is expected to accept an offer to sit on Donald Trump’s new ‘Board of Peace’ to run Gaza following October’s ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas

As part of his 20-point peace plan for the Middle East, Mr Trump has proposed a new international transitional body to oversee the redevelopment of Gaza

Displaced Palestinians inspect their tents amid heavy rainfall west of Khan Younis city, southern Gaza

‘Essentially it’s the most important leaders of the most important nations,’ the US President told reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday.

‘You take the most important leaders and nations, that’s who the Board of Peace is going to be. Everybody wants to be on it.’

A Government source said that no formal invite had been extended for Sir Keir to join the Board of Peace.

On Monday night, Sir Keir defended the amount of time he devotes to foreign affairs as he addressed Labour MPs in Parliament.

The Prime Minister has been dubbed ‘never here Keir’ due to his frequent trips abroad, with pressure growing on him to renew his focus on the Government’s domestic agenda amid Labour’s dwindling poll ratings.

But he told a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party: ‘One thing that is crystal clear is that we are moving into a world that is very different to the one most of us grew up in.

‘And in a world this volatile – you have to be on the pitch. You have to be in the room to tackle the issues working people care about.

‘The cost-of-living crisis will not be solved by isolationism. You cannot deliver peace in Ukraine without being in the room.

‘And you do not secure trade terms for companies like JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) by putting gesture politics first.’