The UK is unique in being a world trading country with a long history of involvement in international disputes that can work with NATO, the Commonwealth, the TPP, the G7, and the Five Eyes. We need to work with who we can issue by issue, but concentrate on the UK national interest.
I have no problem in principle with PM Starmer if he wants to follow a different course from the USA on any particular matter. He needs to make his case and get it right when or if he disagrees with the President. I supported as a youngster the UK staying out of the Viet Nam war, and later failed to persuade the Conservative opposition to oppose Blair’s involvement of the UK in Iraq. I have always thought a strong and friendly relationship with the USA a good idea. I remember the failure of the US to join our war in Europe in 1939 until Japan bombed them into the conflict, and remember the reluctance of the US to help us liberate the Falklands by military means. The UK has to be able to defend itself.
I do have a problem with PM Starmer believing there is some proto EU defence scheme we can attach ourselves to. It is embarrassing to watch him asking France and Germany before he expresses a view of what the UK can and should do as if they would help or have the resources to defend us. Our history shows us that all invasions and military threats to these islands have in the past come from European countries and empires, though we are assured this cannot happen now. The French, the Germans, the Italian Romans, the Scandinavian Vikings, the Dutch, the Spanish and others have taken it in turns to seek to conquer us. It is clearly a good idea to seek friendly and positive relations with European countries and with the EU, but a grave folly to think we can by becoming a rule taker from the continent somehow secure our own safety and pursue our own interests.
The modern EU has no plans to assail us militarily, but plenty of plans to make us obey its laws, import more from them, pay them tax revenues and direct our policies. Their interests are clearly not our interests in these areas. It makes sense for them to tax us, but makes no sense for us to agree. It makes sense for them to want to send many of their young people here, but not for us as we are short of homes and jobs. It makes sense for them to demand cheap fees at UK universities for their students, but that undermines the finances of our great universities. It makes sense for them to want us to impose high tariffs on non EU imports to give their companies more chance to take over our markets. That will just harm the UK consumer more.
The EU is trying to establish a stronger role in European defence by taking powers from member states and borrowing large sums centrally to buy more control. It wants the UK to pay a large sum to have possible access to their defence orders. This comes at a time when the UK defence industry has a full order book and when the UK should be spending extra money on buying more UK produced weapons, not on subsidising an emerging EU defence presence we do not control.
March 17, 2026
it is pointless expecting someone like starmer to be able to model a complex multi dimensional changing problem domain in his head. or to be able to instinctively know the right thing to do given a new problem, working it out from guiding first principles. or to have any delivery experience to fix real world problems, or knowing how to lead and motivate widely differing members of a team.
he simply doesn’t have the skills, insight, or self awareness of his own strengths and weaknesses.
sadly our political process is selecting completely the wrong kinds of people for jobs like this.
we need people in the top jobs who can deal with complex problems, but we simply dont have them.
March 17, 2026
In Iran’s case it looks as though Starmer’s stumbling has landed him on the correct side. Yesterday’s developments appear pivotal; the lack of any, so far, US friendly nations to want to participate in the hard work of clearing and maintaining the free use of the Straits of Hormuz, makes Starmer appear to have made a sensible decision (even IF we had any vessels to help). The expectations of the orange general that Iran’s dictators would collapse and flee appear to be premature. Trump has been told now, and reportedly many time before, that the Straits o H. would be the key and hard to manage. Will he continue hammering the same nut, or has he got a backup plan?
Midterms are looking on the horizon, he needs a quick win and cannot afford to go home empty handed.
March 17, 2026
As I recall President Reagan did, in fact, help Britain in the Falklands War…against the counsel of his advisers. Whilst not overt, it was of consequence.
March 17, 2026
He refuelled our planes midair.
It allowed them to fly round trips from the U.K. to the Falklands.
Not exactly a lot of help.
March 17, 2026
@Lynn Atkinson
Rubbish – Reagan did nothing of the sort. The RAF used it’s own air refueling tankers to get the Vulcan V bombers to the S Atlantic and back. The Sea Harriers which won the air war were refueled on HMS Invincible off the Falklands
March 17, 2026
Sidewinder missiles we’re provided in clear support of the British by Casper Wineberger
March 17, 2026
Oh that’s good to know, a wonderful man. I bought one of my husband’s books when they sold his library emblazed with ‘ex Libris Caspar Wineberger’.
However our own Sea Dart was the most successful apparently, our relation Commander Wippell was on the thick of it and responsible for the IT control systems having developed them.
It outperformed the French Exocet which was deployed against us, unsurprisingly.
March 17, 2026
in the Falklands campaign the USA gave us the newer sidewinder missiles which gave our planes a massive advantage, they gave us satellite intelligence, they even offered us an aircraft carrier (although they wanted us to staff it), these are not trivial contributions
March 17, 2026
He authorised the release of Sidewinder air to air missiles, without which the Falklands would have been lost.
March 17, 2026
PS. I forgot. Contrast US support with the French continuing to support the Argentinians with Exocet including its modification for firing from trucks on land, one of which almost sank HMS Glamorgan and killed 14 crew.
March 17, 2026
+1. I recall that the French refused to supply replacement parts for some armament we were stupid enough to buy from them. I don’t know the details.
With allies like the French NATO is such a reliable association, as Trump has proven yet again.
March 17, 2026
The USA gave our Falkland’s forces access to satellite communications which I understand was of enormouis benefit.
March 17, 2026
They allowed us to use Ascension Island which base we shared as we do Diego Garcia.
If they had refused we would have been snookered and the Falklands and all the sea around it would have been lost.
You can see that Trump has a right to be peeved.
March 17, 2026
I think I agree with that fair assessment.
I doubt Starmer and his motley crew are doing anything in the interests of this nation and its people. Their only desire is to be incorporated into the EU bloc and all decisions will be made with that in mind.
March 17, 2026
Correct.
March 17, 2026
In other words they long to abdicate.
March 17, 2026
I agree fully but alas Starmer and his appalling cabinet get virtually everything wrong.
I too was against Iran rather too young to know much about Vietnam. Has that Manchester FC owner chemicals magnet yet corrected his statement saying Starmer was a “decent, intelligent and honourable man”?
Interesting to see Steven Pound with you on Mogg yesterday (he voted for Iraq) talking his usual daft party supporting drivel. Perhaps he was always like this or perhaps all that Naval Boxing did it. Can they not find a rather more worthy rational lefty for you to spar with. I suppose it must be quite hard.
Interesting to hear on Mogg too just how West Midlands police are financing themselves by harassing truck drivers. Truly appalling but such is Anarcho-Tyranny that is so prevalent now in the UK.
It seems following the two deaths in Kent student are queuing up for antibiotics. Why would you give these (bug killing drugs) to people unless they have signs they are suffering from these bacteria. Seems to be rather an odd practice – the antibiotics are surely not preventive of anything until infected are they?
March 17, 2026
Trump “I used to consider the UK the Rolls Royce of allies” but then we got broken compass Starmer!
Trump to Starmer “You do not need to consult your team you can make a decision yourself” well perhaps he can but always the wrong ones – on Trump support, on EU dynamic realignment, on fishing, on Chagos, on energy, on employments laws, on Net Zero on VAT on school fees, on free speech suppression, on Islamophobia laws, on two Tier Justice, on Tax levels, on immigration, on defence, on no deterrent justice, on law and order, doom loop economics… He surely will be gone soon after the May 7 elections alas the replacement likely to be equally idiotic!
March 17, 2026
West Midlands Police has come under fire for making more than £1m by “harassing” lorry drivers and forcing them to pay for escorts.
But we have the same Anarcho-Tyrany everywhere in the UK.The highest taxes since the war and they then use these taxes to further mug the public or businesses.
March 17, 2026
Following on later on GBNews, it was disturbing to learn of mobs going around certain areas knocking on doors and intimidating households over not buying Israeli goods. The inference being if the households don’t comply with the anti-Israel objective they become targets.
This is the kind of intimidation that enables the Taliban to dominate Afghanistan and the Mullahs to suppress Iran. A small minority ruling the majority through fear.
The households concerned need to push back and get themselves organised against these bullies. Better if the police can put a stop to it using the Ways and Means Act if nothing else.
March 17, 2026
PS. I forgot. Contrast US support with the French continuing to support the Argentinians with Exocet including its modification for firing from trucks on land, one of which almost sank HMS Glamorgan and killed 14 crew.
March 17, 2026
Oops, sorry my Glamorgan comment is not for you ,Lifelogic. However, I understand meningitis can be caused by either a bacteria of virus – two types. Which it is in the cases in Kent I don’t know.
March 17, 2026
“….others have taken it in turns to seek to conquer us”. Indeed – now they have an insider doing it for them.
March 17, 2026
Once a great trading nation, now an importing nation without basic industries
This week Denby Pottery will go into administration afterc150 years citing energy costs. Another win for Milibrain, nor so good for the 600 workers.
Starmer and his gang are fixated by the EU no doubt relishing the prospect of a well paid sinecure after they’ve destroyed Britain.
I see Austria has closed its borders. Seems the whole things unravelling but 2TK wants to join.
March 17, 2026
Mad Miliband’s Net Zero and energy at 4 times the cost it should be will/is killing almost everything. Fertilisers, farming, steel, concrete, transport, food, construction, vehicle production, defence… how can we kill this mad religion that infected governments from Major through May to Miliband and Starmer. Thatcher even fell for it at one point!
March 17, 2026
Good morning.
This government an and this PM in particular is very pro-EU, hence all the kow-towing. He is also no leader of men.
It was interesting to hear some of the words from President Trump about the PM. They were far less than complimentary. Apparently, according to President Trump, TTK offered one of our Carriers to help police the Straights of Humus(sp). I think it was rejected.
President Trump is making other political leaders look bad. He has long argued over various nations ability to commit to NATO fully and be there for the USA as the USA would, and has been, for them. This is I think playing well to a domestic audience ahead of elections there.
We, and to be fair others, have been made to look weak and pathetic, cowering behind the USA military. And we are !
March 17, 2026
The modern EU has no plans to assail us militarily, but plenty of plans to make us obey its laws, import more from them, pay them tax revenues and direct our policies.
And what’s your bet that Starmer & Rachel from accounts are already in talks with the EU to run our country because they bloody sure are not and you can bet your bottom dollar that clueless tool Starmer will use the conflict in the Middle East to gain more support for his useless government and swing the polls to his advantage, because after all the misguided voter put these useless clowns into power and they will fall for his bile again
March 17, 2026
Reeves is talking about the damage Brexit did and how to rectify it.!
March 17, 2026
MBJ
Say it often enough and many people will believe it, hence the reason it is being used to rejoin whatever we can, and pay ever more taxation.
March 17, 2026
The EU is assailing us by economic, legal and regulatory means. We voted to LEAVE and restore our independence but the Establishment, using the pro-EU CONs then in Government, refused to do it.
Two-Tier is deliberately damaging the Special Relationship and distancing us from the USA whilst at the same time selling us out to the EU again and promoting the idea of a European Defence Force. Labour’s plan was to realign the UK with the EU during its first term of Office and then, having effectively made us a colony, pledge to rejoin the EU during the second term.
Since they have realised that there won’t be a second term, Two-Tier/Miliband etc are now men in a hurry. The sellout will be swift and comprehensive.
Anyone who wants to comment on the proposals for Ditigal ID and the plan for a Surveillance State can make their contribution to the CONsultation here.
https://roadmap-for-modern-digital-government.campaign.gov.uk/digital-id-consultation/
March 17, 2026
“The EU is assailing us by economic, legal and regulatory means. ”
Quite so, the are assailing us – economics is war by other means.
March 17, 2026
The person currently in 10 Downing St has other plans John.
To endorse your point. when was the last time any European nation came to help Britain defend our islands from invasion?
I can’t think of a single occasion.
March 17, 2026
Starmer seems to be looking for an easy route out of his problems by trying to get under the EU umbrella for all sorts of reasons – clearly he has realised that he himself and his party of the left are not up to the job of stimulating and managing the UK, never mind putting the country on a war footing.
If he can get the UK ruled from Brussels he can concentrate on staying in office and completing the tasks set for him of making the UK a 1984-style communist woke haven.
This man who pretends to be our PM is dangerous beyond measure – never mind his U-turns and general incompetence, he is still whispering in Zelensky’s ear to support him and keep that war going, and all for his own personal reasons.
We need a GE NOW before he does irreversible damage!
March 17, 2026
The Donald has found that his orders demanding that America’s allies take the place of the US Navy and provide escorts for tankers going through the Straits of Hormuz has been rejected
The UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Australia, Japan, Canada have all refused. After 911 America invoked Article 5 and everyone sent troops to Afghanistan, where they fought bravely with many soldiers paying the ultimate price – despite Trump’s disgusting assertions to the contrary. Clearly, Trump’s regular insults to his NATO allies have seriously damaged relations, particularly the UK/USA “Special Relationship”
Trump’s repeated animus towards Ukraine and particularly to the brave and resourceful Volodymyr Zelenskyy has it’s origin in Zelenskyy’s refusing to dig up dirt on Biden – which led to Trump’s impeachment
Over the past two days the IRGC has allowed Chinese, India and Russian tankers full of oil and natural gas to pass the Strait unmolested. The price of oil has fallen back this morning
Trump, the pro-Putin anti-NATO Vietnam draft dodger, has found out that America needs allies after all
March 17, 2026
@Sakara Gold – you have bought into the left-wing tripe, hate and the media click-bait. Protecting UK Shipping, UK territory Cyprus etc, UK Citizens has nothing directly to do with condoning or what is happening between the USA, Israel & Iran. It is whether the UK Parliament will step up and do its first duty of keeping the UK safe, its people safe.
The Straits are international waters, governed by the usual non-existent international laws. The countries you mention are saying we don’t agree with these international laws, it doesn’t suit them. Keeping them open is not incumbent on the USA but those that wish there was international law and need them open. Dubai, the UAE & Oman have nothing to do with the attacks on Iran yet they are the ones being punished by the International comunity.
Lets not forget the USA doesn’t need oil and gas from the Gulf States, but those that won’t protect their own shipping and citizens do.
March 17, 2026
@Ian B
Your rambling, incoherent rant is not worth a reasoned response
March 17, 2026
You have no answer, there is no answer.
March 17, 2026
+1
March 17, 2026
A belligerent nation (e.g. the US) using international waters will be fired on by the side it’s attacking. A non-belligerent (China etc.) won’t. Does that surprise you, Ian?
March 17, 2026
To quote Lord Palmerston. “We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow”.
For now our friend America is governed by overactive and clumsy people who are causing much damage and cost with no prospect of benefit. Not even to America although personal enrichment is very much on the table.
For now it is better we hold back a little. In a few years Trump will be gone, America may return to being a more sensible ally, we shall see. For all his faults Starmer is steering a middle course – fairly sensible. In a few years Starmer too may be gone. We live close to Europe and our gas and electric power lines are connected to say nothing of trade. We cannot be completely aloof and independent.
Some seem to have the notion that if only we had some intellectual giants in charge all would be well, wise and sensible policies we agree with would bring us to Nirvana. We never will, unless some giant AI system dictates us all. Government is not five dimensional chess, more like surviving inside a giant pinball machine.
March 17, 2026
The European continent has provided the U.K. with a perpetual enemy.
March 17, 2026
I fully agree however no UK Foreign Policy is likely to survive the influence of the US President who is probably seriously ill. We need to insist on our political and military independence from both the EU and USA. Clearly we need to increase our Military expenditure in our self defence. We can no-longer rely upon NATO article 5 in fact now that I have actually read article 5 it was always much over hyped. We cannot rely on Europe which is politically fragmented and undecided on defence. We have no choice but to rely on our own UK sovereign state and our own Military for defence. Failure is not an option.
March 17, 2026
Absolutely Lord John. I agree with every word and so should every right thinking Brit. I don’t care where you come from, what colour you are or how you pray. Earn your keep, speak our language, obey our laws, laugh with us and (most importantly) be happy to be here. There are many in this Country who might not have been born here, who try to live by these simple requirements.
Unfortunately there are also many here, both home grown and imported who do not see the need to support themselves, who have no desire to be law abiding and who have no pride or belief in this Country. They don’t want to live with us or laugh with us. They are just unhappy…
Keir Starmer ultimately doesn’t have any faith in us (and quite possibly himself). He thinks we should give up much of what makes us uniquely British. What is even worse than that is that he doesn’t share our sense of humour either – or he’d never keep a straight face at PMQs.
March 17, 2026
You think that uniquely, the British nation (the 4 home nations) is not worth keeping.
Expect a lot less laughter. A lot more rape and pillage, and know that you invited it and therefore deserve it.
March 17, 2026
We certainly do have ‘”a long history of involvement in international disputes”. I think our foreign policy should be directed at keeping us out of such disputes, except as trusted mediators. We are not, currently, anything like trusted mediators in any part of the world.
I would start by cutting the mindset and trappings of empire and past hegemony. We should leave foreign nations to govern themselves however they choose. We must accept that our way of doing things may not work for others, and others may view us as barbarian as we view them. Foreign policy should be directed towards trade, and not the projection of power.
So I would have us leave the UN security Council, where we’re a puppet of the US. Leave (properly) the EU. Leave 5 eyes. These are measures to assert our independence. Develop our own nuclear deterrent like the French have done, rather than lease missiles and targeting from the US. Prepare for a rearmed Germany (dangerous combination of the biggest army in Europe along with a ruined economy), and a bankrupt France that hates us.
We should look for good relations with the BRICS, rather than hitch ourselves to the dying US and EU empires. Trade, trade, trade.
March 17, 2026
I believe you are from Australia.
The US has allowed Australian sailors onto it nuclear subs (which have been deployed during this war on the Islamic Republic). They were there for training so that they could man the US manufactured subs that were to be deployed in the Australian Navy.
Albanese stood the Australians down and made them retire to their bunks on the US deployed ships.
In my view this is an act of war.
I don’t think the USA will take any such risk again.
The British Dominions, the parasites of NATO are going to find themselves ‘at the back of the line’.
Starmer is adamant that the ‘cost of living crisis’ must be relieved by stopping the war against the Mullahs and Ayatollahs. But Zelensky is in Downing Street today for another payday, so the fruitless war in Ukraine is to be funded regardless.
March 17, 2026
The UK needs an independent Parliament, Government and Prime Minster able to step up and do their duty to protect the UK Citizen and their interest.
Having a Parliament that what is amounts to is deferring to unaccountable foreign bodies, institution and individuals before their own duties and responsibilities is not what democracy is about.
The PM supported by Parliament yesterday virtually stated it is not his or Parliaments prerogative to safe-guard UK Citizens lives, UK assets, UK friends and allies.
March 17, 2026
He does not know what a U.K. citizen is. Neither do you. The Home Office issued 238,000 aliens with U.K. citizenship last year and shortly thereafter Boris-wave will also be declared citizens.
March 17, 2026
“The UK has to be able to defend itself.” that’s the real story, the one thing that the UK Parliament still fighting Brexit is fighting against and they have a cheer leader in the man they made PM
March 17, 2026
“UK national interest.” that’s the problem a UK Parliament that fights UK national interests, refuses to protect the UK Citizen, its shipping, its vital sea lanes. A parliament that refuses it first duty of keeping us safe and secure
March 17, 2026
As with others it is not had to rationalise that the anti USA rhetoric against our oldest ally our largest trading partner, is all part of the ‘Plan’ to drive a wedge between the USA and the UK, to force the UK fully under the yoke of the unelected unaccountable EU. Then Parliament, its lazy free-loading MPs can then get back to sitting on their hands and let the bureaucrats dictate.
March 17, 2026
It will be the Mosque dictating. The infidel bureaucracy is toast.
March 17, 2026
No doubt Starmer will be setting himself up to lead the Coalition of the Unwilling.
But again he has got his priorities back to front: I have never been able to see how our National Interest lay with saving the Ukraine, but very clearly how it lies with keeping the Strait of Hormuz open to navigation. Macron has got it right for once.
March 17, 2026
You didn’t vote for it, you didn’t ask for it and you don’t need it.
100% Rachel Reeves choice supported by a fast becoming redundant Parliament
“In this changing world, Britain is not powerless. We can shape our own future. Our method is stability, investment and reform — through an active and strategic state. Today, I am making three big choices on the greatest growth opportunities for Britain in the decade to come: growth in every part of Britain, AI and innovation, and a deeper relationship with the EU.”
https://order-order.com/2026/03/17/reeves-bets-on-brussels-in-last-ditch-attempt-at-economic-growth/
In plain English it is my job supported by Parliament to destroy every last fabric of the UK
March 17, 2026
It is impossible to have an independent foreign policy without a strong military and a strong economy both of which are being destroyed by the false CAGW hoax and its Net Zero “solution” scam. How can we be “independent” if we are de-industrialising and relying upon China for our Net Zero infrastructure for electricity, heating and transport and importing all our fossil based energy, fertiliser, pharmaceuticals and food? Socialism depends upon making and keeping people poor.
March 17, 2026
Whatever we may think of the US/Israel action against Iran, it has exposed how poor our current defences are.
The Government’s first duty is the protection of the UK, and this crisis has exposed how badly this Labour Government, and previous governments, have failed to make our forces/defence a priority. It is shocking that we did not have a ship around Cyprus to defend our bases, and it is still not there after 4 weeks.
Equally shocking that this has not caused a realignment of government spending to rebuild our armed forces, creating a UK-wide iron dome system, and securing our borders from an influx of illegal immigrants.
Starmer, Reeves and Miliband must be the three worst Ministers we have ever had.