Sir Keir Starmer's flight to the Nato summit in Ankara took an extraordinary turn when the Prime Minister revealed he had been given a revolver as a gift by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The incident occurred at 35,000 feet, capping a bizarre 48-hour trip that included Starmer hand-delivering a birthday cake to a TV reporter and Nigel Farage announcing his resignation as an MP.
Revolver gift and birthday cake
During the flight, Starmer appeared relaxed, dressed in a black casual top, jacket, and trainers, and clutching an England football top. He later presented a birthday cake to GB News chief political correspondent Katherine Forster, joking that he didn't have a knife. The Prime Minister's informal demeanor contrasted sharply with the usual protocol of Prime Ministerial trips.
According to political editor Martyn Brown, who accompanied Starmer, the Prime Minister mentioned the revolver gift during the return flight. The weapon, engraved with Starmer's name, was one of a series of gifts presented to leaders attending the summit. British officials retained the revolver in Turkey, and it is expected to be decommissioned before being returned to the UK.
Nigel Farage's bombshell announcement
While the plane was above the Black Sea, Nigel Farage tweeted that he would make a statement about his political future at 2pm. This triggered frantic speculation among the travelling journalists, who lacked reliable wifi to confirm details. Brown messaged Farage directly but received no response until after landing.
Upon arrival in Ankara, the press corps watched Farage's announcement on YouTube. He declared he was resigning as an MP to trigger a by-election in Clacton. Brown described the moment as realizing he was 2,000 miles away from the main story.
Summit proceedings and emotional moments
The summit itself passed without major drama. A virtual briefing with Chancellor Rachel Reeves covered defence funding, and former US President Donald Trump reiterated his interest in Greenland. Brown met new Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis at the British Ambassador's residence after a Turkish breakfast.
During a media huddle, Starmer twice became emotional when asked about his political demise, reflecting the depth of his departure from No 10. The Prime Minister also discussed the Farage situation and the Count Binface candidacy in Clacton.
Unusual Prime Ministerial behaviour
Brown, who has covered Prime Ministerial trips for two decades under David Cameron, Theresa May, Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and Rishi Sunak, noted that Starmer's behaviour was unusual. The Labour leader's relaxed interactions and the revolver gift set this trip apart. The revolver, with live ammunition, remained with British officials in Turkey and will be decommissioned.
The flight home saw Starmer grinning again, a stark contrast to the emotional moments at the summit. Brown concluded by wondering if future trips under a new Prime Minister would match the excitement of this journey.
