Former UK diplomat: Foreign Office has lost its ability to discern friends from enemies

Former UK diplomat Edmund Fitton-Brown asserts that the Foreign Office has lost its ability to distinguish between friends and enemies, attributing this to Islamist entryism within the civil service and broader society. He criticizes the Foreign Office's "systematic bias when it comes to the Middle East," noting that Israel receives "a forensic level of scrutiny" while adversaries' actions are often excused. Fitton-Brown also described outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer's record on Israel, the Middle East, and tackling extremism and antisemitism as "disappointing," citing indecisiveness regarding Iran and a failure to address Islamist extremism effectively. He expresses guarded optimism for Starmer's likely successor, Andy Burnham, believing Burnham possesses superior leadership skills and a greater readiness to confront poor advice, particularly on issues like antisemitism and a firm stance against Iran.