But as Keir Starmer drifted aimlessly around the Gulf this week, it was painfully clear that our great nation is now little more than a bit player in the geopolitical arena.
Retail boss Richard Walker was handed a remit to look at areas where 'consumers get a rough deal' and report directly to the Prime Minister on 'cost-of- living interventions'.
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Never has it been more apparent, exactly a month into the war on Iran, that Trump embarked on this escapade with minimal planning and no clearly defined exit strategy.
In most religions, the act of prayer is a conversation between believer and God. Whether seeking guidance or expressing contrition it is essentially a private dialogue.
In the realpolitik of international diplomacy, it's sometimes necessary to dance with the devil by enlisting the support of an otherwise unsavoury regime in the fight against a more pressing foe.
Even Keir Starmer must know, in his heart of hearts, that he is fooling no one as he frantically tries to distance himself from the Peter Mandelson debacle.
Seven days have now passed in the new Iran war. One of Britain's most frequently quoted political maxims, attributed to Harold Wilson, is that a week is a long time in politics.
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Imagine if Sir Keir Starmer had been in charge when Argentina invaded the Falklands. Or, worse still, in 1940 when Britain stood alone against Hitler.