PM Uses Major Foreign Pol Speech To Back Israel & Ukraine; No New Paradigm

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivered an address to the Lord Mayor's banquet in the City of London on 13 Nov. The the prime minister'sannual speech at the Guildhall by custom focuses on foreign policy, and can be an opportunity for a PM to set a new stance or paradigm in relation to the UK's international priorities. However, in comparison to previous years this speech was relatively low key, focusing more on 'values' than policy.

• Rather than setting out the UK gov'ts view on issues such as relations with China, Sunak instead used the address to reiterate UK support for Israel and Ukraine while seeking to demonstrate the UK's position as a global leader in AI regulation, climate change and healthcare.
• The major international focus on the UK will be in the short term whether the gov't joins calls for a full ceasefire in Gaza (looking unlikely, UK likely to mirror US stance in calling for 'humanitarian pauses').
• The speech came on the day that Sunak appointed former Prime Minister David (soon to be Lord) Cameron as his new Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, garnering significant domestic headlines.
• It remains to be seen what sort of reception Cameron receives in future interactions with the European Union. Whether a cold shoulder due to the UK's exit stemming from his prime ministerial decision to call the referendum, or a warm welcome given his position as a supporter of the Remain campaign and image as a moderate centrist within the UK Conservative party.