Harris and Starmer toast to an 'important reset of relations' between Ireland and UK 

"We want to work with all of you," he told members of the European Political Community, a 47-strong body of nations from across the continent.

"To reset relationships. Rediscover our common interest. And renew the bonds of trust and friendship."

Mr Starmer, who was swept to power in what was described as a "loveless landslide", has work to do in rebuilding the UK's relationships with its continental neighbours, but his tone this week has hit the right notes, at least. 

Here in Blenheim Palace amid heavy security and heavier sweltering air, Irish focus was on how the new prime minister would approach this week in which he welcomed first Taoiseach Simon Harris and then a coterie of world leaders into leafy Oxfordshire.

On Wednesday, Mr Harris headed to Chequers, the prime minister's country home to meet the man he referred to on first name terms in Thursday's press briefing. 

Mr Starmer hasn't exactly had time to acquaint himself with the facility, which perhaps accounted for the Taoiseach being held at the nearby Russell Arms pub for a quarter of an hour before being driven up the country lanes and into the grounds and up the drive to the red-brick mansion.

There, in the Hawtry Room, Mr Harris and Mr Starmer spoke of resets and renewals and new chapters, and toasted over a pint of Guinness (whose PR must have been working overtime this week) before retiring for a working dinner that saw a crispy hen's egg, cod loin, and a Guinness and chocolate cake put before the leaders and their delegations which included Sue Gray, the Party gate investigator turned Mr Starmer's chief of staff. 

Ms Gray was at one point the permanent secretary at the department of finance in Northern Ireland and Mr Starmer himself has spoken of his deep affection for the North. If ever a London administration was going to work with Ireland, the sense is that this is the one.

To that end and to judge from Mr Harris, the initial impression of Mr Starmer is glowing. In Mr Starmer, the Irish contingent feels that it has found a neighbour who understands the Irish perspective and its people and who, crucially, will not have to play to a Brexiteer gallery. This is not someone with who you can do business, they feel, it's someone with whom they want to do business.

While the opening exchanges, before the media was shooed out of the stately home, were high on catch-words, Mr Harris said that the new Prime Minister's interest in the occasion went far beyond soundbites.

I can't overstate the significance of tonight's meetings with the prime minister around how important a reset of relations is. It's very easy to have a slogan around this. This is not a slogan to Keir Starmer.

Key to this is a new annual summit, where the leaders of the two nations will come together to discuss issues and to build a programme of work upon which ministers can work. This, Mr Harris said, would not just be a talking shop. Indeed, unlike the British Irish Council, it would be reserved for the leaders of the countries.

At the end of the dinner, Mr Harris gave Mr Starmer a Donegal GAA jersey to go with one he received on his honeymoon in the county over 20 years ago and joked it was in the "spirit of renewal". Mr Starmer had, he said, accepted an invitation to return the visit on September 7, the day Ireland play England in an international football match.

In the baking heat of Blenheim Palace just 14 hours later, Mr Harris's effusiveness for Mr Starmer had not waned, calling him a "gamechanger" in relations between the UK and the EU and maybe he is. 

But given the indifference or downright hostility previous holders of the office have had for Ireland, that will not be difficult.

Mr Starmer is not coming to Ireland in September wrapped in a tricolour, but his Donegal jersey may be just as good.