Daily Star: Sir Keir Starmer's name has rather rude meaning in Iran - causing 'linguistic dilemma'

The government and media there are said to be in a tizzy over how to refer to the new Labour leader on TV with red faces all round

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Sir Keir Starmer’s election as leader of the Labour party has been lost in translation – because his name reportedly means “bell-end” in Iran.

The government and media there are said to be in a tizzy over how to refer to the UK’s opposition chief.

Iranian political analyst Ali Alizadeh revealed the problem on his Twitter feed.

He wrote: “The election of Sir Keir Starmer to lead Britain’s Labour Party is posing a pointed linguistic dilemma for the Persian media & Iranian gov.

“When written out in Farsi, ‘Sir Keir’ translates as ‘bell-end’ or ‘tip of the penis’.

“If Starmer becomes PM Iran may have to blur him out.’’

The revelation sparked a host of jokes online, with one wag writing: “Pretty sure it will soon come to mean the same in English.’’

Another said: “You couldn’t make it up. This is the highlight of the year.’’

Another Middle East expert said Sir Keir was not the first senior politician to have language difficulties over his name.

Former French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault's surname translated as 'dick' in Arabic.

The expert posted an Arabic newspaper headline which he said read: "Hollande takes over as President of France and names his dick as Prime Minister.''

Sir Keir unveiled his new top team after culling ­Jeremy Corbyn loyalists.

The new Labour leader pledged to end the party’s in-fighting, saying: “I will have in my Shadow Cabinet those that want to serve towards the future aim of winning that next general election.

“It will be a talented, balanced Shadow Cabinet.”

He appointed leadership rival Lisa Nandy as Shadow Foreign Secretary and former MEP Anneliese Dodds is now Shadow Chancellor.

Shadow International Trade Secretary Barry Gardiner was the first frontbencher asked to leave.

And Corbyn loyalists Ian Lavery, who was party chairman, and Shadow Cabinet Office Minister Jon Trickett, were also sacked.

Nick Ashworth was kept on as Chief Whip and Jonathan Ashworth as Shadow Health Secretary.

And former Shadow Secretary General Nick Thomas-Symonds is now Shadow Home Secretary.