As public displays of affection go, it was as overt as they come. When Sir Keir Starmer met President Macron outside Downing Street, there was a handshake that turned into a lingering hug and then an extended grip and grin for the cameras.
It culminated in Macron putting his hand on Starmer’s back and ushering him into his own house in an apparent display of friendly one-upmanship. Le Bromance, the not-so-subtle message went, was very much on.
The two men went to the pillared room in No 10 to seal a migrant returns deal that had been months in the making. The Tories had attempted to reach a similar agreement, but were rebuffed by Macron, which led to Rishi Sunak pursuing the Rwanda scheme.
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The two leaders announce the “one in-one out” migrant scheme
