Don’t let soft power become being a soft touch

Prior to the Brexit referendum the great and the not so good thundered that the UK would lose influence and be isolated if it dared to leave the EU. The grown ups told us it would be cold outside with no-one interested in who we are or what we thought. It was yet another of their false forecasts.

In  the 2025 survey of countries with the most soft power the UK comes in third place after the superpowers USA and China. It is two places ahead of Germany, the best placed EU country. When we were in the EU prior to 2016 Germany was ahead of us in the rankings. It always seemed likely to me that the UK would have more influence if it wishes to exercise it once out. For example, we could not  have our own trade policy whilst in the EU and had to stand down from our place around the table of the World Trade Organisation for the EU to represent us. They did so in a protectionist way, wishing to keep high tariff barriers in a number of areas. Now we are out of the EU we can be a good influence for freer trade with our own voice at the meetings. This is even more important now the US has gone protectionist in retaliation against China and the EU.

As the second biggest member of NATO we have good influence over defence matters. As a leading member of the Five Eyes grouping of the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand we have access to the best intelligence in the free world. Our language and cultural reach is wide ranging. President Trump understood this well when he drew attention to UK achievements alongside the USA, now the leader of the democratic  world. There is a vital partnership of the English speaking nations, led by the US and UK, including our friends in the Commonwealth and the US’s allies.

It is possible however, to undermine this soft power success. The present government is coming across as a soft touch government. The EU re set negotiations are humiliating, with the UK giving more and more away with still no sign of anything positive we might want. Giving away the fish for some alleged improvements to access for farm products was a very expensive bad deal, but to add freedom of movement to it as well would be a disaster.  Giving both the Chagos islands and a huge wad of money over 99 years to Mauritius when the international courts have no authority to make us inflict such self harm is craven. Setting out to establish a coalition of the willing for Ukraine was ill judged without US backing, but it became feeble when it appeared that President Macron had taken on the leadership of  the UK’s  bad idea. Announcing with a fanfare we will smash the gangs and then showing the government just lets many more illegals in looks weak.

Soft power  requires us to be good  at diplomacy as well as having a great back story of past achievements and a modern cultural flowering. If we go on like this we will get a reputation as being a big soft touch. That  will prove to be a good way to undermine our reputation for soft power. It will weaken our economy and make it difficult to do good deals.

 

This article is also being published by Facts4eu today.

88 Comments

  1. Mark B
    September 19, 2025

    Good morning.

    There was a news item where an abandoned caravan painted with pro-Palestine wording was left for months until someone painted it with the Flag of St. George. Within days the council removed it.

    Why do I mention the above in relation to today’s piece ? Because it highlights the mentality of those in the State Sector. If they can get away doing nothing, they will. That is until someone somewhere in authority demands that ‘x’ be done.

    We are a ‘soft touch’ because those in power wish it to be so. Simple.

    1. Michelle
      September 19, 2025

      ++++ This is the state of affairs and has been for a very long time.
      Indeed many know of nothing else and have this idea that being the world’s doormat is wrapped up in this ridiculous ‘British tolerance’ or ‘British values’ mantra. Apparently that’s a good thing.

      1. Peter
        September 19, 2025

        ‘Soft power’ is a concept introduced by politicians and others who still want to play at being a statesman.

        Britain militarily and economically is no longer a superpower – but these folk pretend they have valuable skills on the world stage.

        If they have access to other people’s money they turn into Lady Bountiful.

        For that reason, it is important to deny them such access.

    2. Ian wragg
      September 19, 2025

      Don’t worry john. By the time we eject these morons we’ll be a complete basket case. Last night after midnight all the flags in my town were removed. Luckily we have a gofundme page so they will be replaced.
      Trump made Starmergeddon look like a recalcitrant school boy, that showed where the real power lies.

      1. Jim+Whitehead
        September 19, 2025

        This morning I heard a familiar voice on the radio, it was very BBC, and so were the sentiments he was vehement in preaching, my radio was almost frothing with his output.
        Was that the Max Hastings of BBC and DT renown, and how did DT prosper under his editorship?
        TDS now in his c.v. I wonder?

      2. Original Richard
        September 19, 2025

        Trump has put the UK and its PM into special measures.

      3. Peter
        September 19, 2025

        Ed Davey was interviewed by Piers Morgan, after refusing an invite to the Trump banquet.

        Mr. Dopey said he was not on the top table and could not speak to Trump about issues of concern.

        That gave Mr. (morgan ed) the opportunity to mention how often he speaks to Trump and to name drop.

        The interview then moved on. (morgan) asked Dopey whether women could have a penis. Dopey avoided the question many times, but eventually said he follows the law and sports bodies should decide who can take part in sports.

        He seemed to think that was OK and politicians should merely ‘debate’ the issue.

        Dopey was by then squirming badly, as (morgan) was keen to point out.

        1. Peter
          September 19, 2025

          Fair’s fair .

          Morgan should also have the well known corruption of his surname if poor old Davey does.

          Reply The corruption was more insulting and less apt

    3. Lifelogic
      September 19, 2025

      Two Tier government everywhere under Two Tier Keir. He was given good advice by Trump:- Do whatever it takes to stop low skilled and illegal immigration, drill baby drill (and frack), don’t bother with expensive sick joke wind turbines! Or at least do not ever subsidise them or rig the market!

      Nick Timothy today.
      The Modern Slavery Act was a terrible mistake. Indeed so (now Baroness) Theresa May and the dire Tories botched Brexit, gave us the Modern Slavery Act, gave Net Zero, open door immigration and for that Kemi and her Con-Socialist allowed her to be elevated to the Lords!

      1. Ian B
        September 19, 2025

        @Lifelogic – and the Parliamentary Group still believe that offering up those who had the collective responsibility for this mess will offer the continuity and the right to gain power once more. While at the same time they ignored and disenfranchised all those of a Conservative persuasion, even choosing to ignore their own membership for the sake of personal ego, when a refresh was needed. 650 MP’s in this Parliament and you would be lucky to find 65 that support the country or its people, the other bunch, at best free-loaders that will fight but not work with the nation

  2. Kathy
    September 19, 2025

    Our soft power is indeed amazing but, oh, how I wish we had some of President Trump’s hard power, mainly because of the guts and belief in nation that automatically come with it. I don’t think I recall any real guts or belief in nation from a politician in the UK since the days of Margaret Thatcher.

    1. Berkshire Alan.
      September 19, 2025

      +1

    2. Jim+Whitehead
      September 19, 2025

      Kathy, +++

    3. Ukret123
      September 19, 2025

      Agreed Margaret Thatcher towered above the mighty Communist CCCP and was right to do so after decades of the Cold War and threats and showed Ronald Reagan before Donald, not to buckle the pressure.
      It was only after the Brighton bombing that her health failed her and the enemy within whom she warned of (and to which DT alluded to in his press talks with Starmer yesterday).
      Blair copied her style but couldn’t match her negotiating skill with G.W. Bush who reversed the tables on him, for all his spinning.

    4. Ian B
      September 19, 2025

      @Kathy +1, well said

  3. Wanderer
    September 19, 2025

    I don’t want us chasing soft power for the sake of it. We should look after our own nation and people first, trade widely, and interfere little in others’ affairs. Whether that makes us a “soft power” is not a consideration.

    1. Peter Wood
      September 19, 2025

      That’s my query also, please define ‘soft power’, and how it makes us better off. Remember, we have to borrow every penny we give away in soft power.

    2. Christine
      September 19, 2025

      Yes, more people from Gaza have arrived in the UK for free NHS treatment courtesy of Yvette Cooper, yet we cannot treat our own UK citizens. Each person has been allowed to travel with their family. How many will ever return home? My guess is none. Why do politicians think it’s OK to grandstand on the world stage using taxpayers’ money? They are a disgrace and need to be removed.

      1. hefner
        September 19, 2025

        Would you have been against the Kindertransport in 1938-39?

        1. Martin in Bristol
          September 19, 2025

          Those children didn’t come to UK for free health care hefner so your comparison isn’t valid

        2. Lynn Atkinson
          September 19, 2025

          Did the Kindertransport include their extended family Hefner?

        3. Narrow Shoulders
          September 19, 2025

          We weren’t full in 38/39

          We still had a balanced budget in 38/39

          Our own population did not take second place in 38/39

          The children (who did not come with families) were from a similar culture and ethic to us and were from a neighbouring country.

          Why aren’t neighbouring countries helping the Gazans? It’s not our problem.

        4. Mickey Taking
          September 19, 2025

          None expected to return home, family wanted them to go although they themselves couldn’t.

        5. Christine
          September 19, 2025

          Disagree with me all you like, but had you lost the most important person in your life because the NHS refused to fund a test that cost only 58p, then you might see things differently. British children are being sacrificed daily due to a shortage of funds, yet they can find money for people who hate us and our country.

      2. Sam
        September 19, 2025

        I agree Christine
        Their local Arabs nations should have given them this heath treatment.

  4. Donna
    September 19, 2025

    Use of the word “power” in relation to the antics of the pathetic Student Union Marxists currently in Government is completely inappropriate.

    They behave, on our behalf, like doormats. Which is why we are being walked all over.

    1. Lifelogic
      September 19, 2025

      Indeed.

      As we can all observe Kier Starmer tells lies almost dail. Trump generally tells the truth but he did however tell two “white” lies with Starmer yesterday which were:- “One of the very few disagreements I have with Starmer” (is about recognition of Gaza) and that “Kier was a tough negotiator” sure look at his wonderful one in one out French deal and his Chagos lunacy!

      Trump actually disagrees with almost everything Starmer supports… his insane energy policy, his war on free speech, his political prisoner Lucy Letby, his friendship with the dire nasty Mayor Sadiq Khan, his recognition for Gaza, his failure to even TRY to stop illegal immigration, his two tier justice, his expensive and sick joke wind farms…

      The main lies from Starmer yesterday:- He pretended he want to protect free speech. Asked if he thought the UK was a Christian country he said he had been “Christened”. So what mate? Please address the question asked! He pretended to be doing something about illegal immigration when he is doing nothing at all of any merit. He is not even trying. He claimed he was “pragmatic” when he is nothing of the sort.

      1. Mickey Taking
        September 19, 2025

        Being splashed with water as a babe in arms hardly makes you a Christian as an adult.

        1. Lifelogic
          September 19, 2025

          Indeed and he was asked about the country not him!

    2. Lifelogic
      September 19, 2025

      UK borrowing rises to an even worse-than-expected £18bn in August. The doom loop economics of Reeves and Starmer in all its glory.

      1. Mickey Taking
        September 19, 2025

        Yes, and sadly not unexpected. Worse to come?

      2. glen cullen
        September 19, 2025

        Its not the borrowing thats bad ….its the big spend thats the problem

    3. Lynn Atkinson
      September 19, 2025

      They are in turn, walking all over us.
      Putin has said Britain is now a police state.
      An acquaintance was arrested for sending an invoice to a tenant, who felt ‘harassed’.
      The arrest stats for online posts are horrendous.
      When the State arrests the victims, they are the criminals.

  5. Sakara Gold
    September 19, 2025

    The Chancellor Rachel Reeves is said to be preparing her autumn budget – without much fiscal room for manoeuvre. The economy has not grown much since the election, unemployment is stubbornly refusing to go down and there are less vacancies for graduates this year

    The one thing that Labour could do to generate some growth is to support manufacturing and particularly exports. Trump’s £500bn tech investment here will help, but we need to attract much more inward investment.

    Neither Hunt, nor Sunak, ever mentioned exports or manufacturing during their budget speeches. Adam Smith wrote in his famous 1776 book “The Wealth of Nations” that key concepts such as the division of labour, productivity, free markets and the role prices play in resource allocation are important. I hope Rachel Reeves has read it. We have had enough of Keynesian economics.

    When it comes to free markets, sending Trump a copy of the book for Xmas would seem to be a good idea

    1. Ian wragg
      September 19, 2025

      Sg. Where have you been. The last three governments from May onwards have actively shutdown our manufacturing base as a matter of net stupid policies.
      2TK and Milibrain in particular are tasked by the WEF to complete the destruction.
      Why would they mention exports when we make nothing. The motor industry is the next to go.

    2. Christine
      September 19, 2025

      They will spin this as a success when the number of work visas reduces, resulting in a fall in legal immigration.

    3. Dave Andrews
      September 19, 2025

      Attracting inward investment is a politician’s ambition. How about stimulating home grown investment, rather than taxing it into the ground? Encourage people here to start and develop business. A British citizen employing anyone is automatically pigeon-holed as Ebenezer Scrooge and must be tied down with onerous legislation to protect the employee.

    4. Lynn Atkinson
      September 19, 2025

      You can’t trade freely if everyone else is imposing tariffs or blocking access to their market by other means. See the EU, China (which suffers very low consumption).

    5. IanT
      September 19, 2025

      I believe that an “AI Google” query uses more than five times the energy of a simple Google search (although I can’t recall the source of that claim). We have the largest data centre in Europe sat in an old industrial park in Slough. How are we going to power this “AI Revolution” ? These new ‘Farms’ won’t provide any food for our tables and will consume huge amounts of energy, that they need in a constant & reliable form. Where is it going to come from? And when??

      1. Original Richard
        September 19, 2025

        Perhaps this is Trump’s way to end the UK’s Net Zero when we discover that wind cannot provide the energy needed?

      2. IanT
        September 20, 2025

        I stand corrected…

        “an AI search required TEN times the energy of a normal search”
        James Carthew – Head of Investment Research at QuotedData

  6. Berkshire Alan.
    September 19, 2025

    Sadly John we have been a soft touch for decades.
    Every time our Prime Ministers (of all Party’s) have gone abroad, or welcome guests here, huge sums of money are promised and spent, and it would seem little follow-up about the results of our so called “investments” are even published or bothered about.
    Thus vast sums of OUR money is just wasted.

  7. iain gill
    September 19, 2025

    but we ARE a soft touch, you only have to look at our international deals with India to see massively one sided deals where the whole UK establishment has been conned by in depth propaganda from India, and how little our leaders understand of the reality. the people in the foreign office dealing with India should have been sacked long ago, and a complete reset done. its getting worse as we now how many of our political leaders who according to the Norman tebbit test support the Indian cricket team not the English one, just not on our side at all.

    1. Narrow Shoulders
      September 19, 2025

      All we have to offer is access to our labour markets and benefits system, which is cheaply given away under the guise of skills shortage.

      Our skills shortage could easily be wiped out by a reform the the benefits system so our own slackers had to work.

      1. iain gill
        September 19, 2025

        why would a brit study computer science when they can see all the jobs are being given to cheap imports from India? the mass import of workers causes skills shortages, it doesn’t solve them.

  8. MPC
    September 19, 2025

    Any bets on how many billions of pounds Starmer will agree to pay in reparations for our despicable colonial past?

    1. glen cullen
      September 19, 2025

      Selling off our Chagoes Islands is indeed soft power but in reality its appeasement …..to the UN and indirectly China

      1. Ian B
        September 19, 2025

        @glen cullen – ah, but, it was his buddies and friends that got paid to suggest it and contrive the untruths being used

      2. Original Richard
        September 19, 2025

        Since the Chagos Islands deal is not legal hopefully it can simply be cancelled by the next incoming administration.

  9. Robert Bywater
    September 19, 2025

    I agree with all that.

    When/how can we do something about it. All we seem to be doing is waving flags.

    1. Christine
      September 19, 2025

      Voters are doing something about it; they are electing Reform politicians. The tide has turned, and we just need to keep the momentum going for the next 4 years until this shower of a government can be consigned to the history books as the worst government ever. The flags are there to unite us and help keep the faith against the onslaught of left-wing media bias.

  10. Rod Evans
    September 19, 2025

    Soft power is the successful deployment of diplomacy, something we were exceptional at as evidenced in the Falklands crisis the last real test of winning friends and influencing events.
    The prime component of diplomacy is respected and deeply trusted diplomats, people, with cyclopaedic knowledge of current and past history involved in pertinent matters of the day.
    With that in mind, is it any wonder Peter Mandelson didn’t measure up to expectations and is it any wonder someone as wooden and as insensitive as Starmer, didn’t place national/diplomatic needs ahead of Party friendships.
    The stories have yet to come out about which particular parties…..

  11. Sakara Gold
    September 19, 2025

    I am not one of POTUS Trump’s fans. I’m extremely suspicious of his close “friendship” with the war criminal Putin, among other issues. Like his insane tariffs

    But I enjoyed watching Jimmy Kimmel’s late night show on YouTube. I found him to be very funny, he never missed a chance to lampoon Trump and his MAGA sycophants. Politicians are in the front line, they have to take the rough with the smooth.

    Trump and MAGA are said to support free speech. Cancelling Kimmel’s show looks like censorship to me

    1. Rod Evans
      September 19, 2025

      Well it might have been an example of Trump censoring something if he had actually been the decision maker on the Kimmel show cancellation, but he wasn’t was he SG?
      Might I also suggest you widen your fixation of hate figures to include some more deserving cases.
      I do agree with you about Trump’s insane quiff….

    2. Sam
      September 19, 2025

      SG
      Kimmel’s show originally was a quite entertaining late night programme, but it had descended into a woke Democrat party political broadcast after President Trump was elected.
      His ratings were causing concern for both the network and their advertisers.
      Good article in the New York Post about it.

    3. Jim+Whitehead
      September 19, 2025

      “Let all the poisons that lurk in the mud hatch out”
      The tide has gone out and we see so much that had been hidden from view.
      The assassination of Charlie Kirk is having profound consequences.

      1. glen cullen
        September 19, 2025

        Correct

    4. Mark
      September 19, 2025

      OFCOM are busy working out how to censor serious broadcasters whose commentary opposes the government. The courts threw out their first attempts, so they are looking for legislation to give them fresh levers.

    5. IanT
      September 19, 2025

      I feel that people are confusing Free Speech with Good Taste.

      Since when has it been acceptable to mock the murder of a man – a husband and father to two very young children? Whatever your views about his politics, Charlie Kirk’s death is obviously a devastating blow to his family. I don’t know exactly why Kimmel’s show was cancelled but I do feel it was appropriate to do so, whatever the ‘politics’ behind it were…

      I feel the same about Russel Brand and Jonathan Ross, ever since that dreadful phone call to Andrew Sachs. I haven’t knowingly listened to (or watched) either of them since. Some things just aren’t funny, rather simply extremely bad taste, not that uncommon these days unfortunately. So not let’s confuse distasteful (and often crude) confections with humour. Some things really do deserve public censure.

  12. Viv Evans
    September 19, 2025

    There’s no such thing as ‘soft power’ unless it’s backed up by ‘hard power’ – which doesn’t have to be used, not even as threat in the sense of Pres Theodore Roosevelt’s quip about speaking softly but carrying a big stick. The ‘soft power’ we’re told we have is indeed nothing but ‘soft touch’ give-aways because our hapless politicians want to be ‘loved’ by recipient countries and because they’ve been cowering before the international ‘Left’ for fear of being called ‘racist’. Just ask yourselves why said international Left blames us for slavery but never mentions that Great Britain and the Royal Navy outlawed slavery long before other countries did.
    As for our ‘soft power’ at present: the ‘coalition’ of Starmer, Macron and Merz is sufficient to show that there’s no power, soft or hard, to be seen.

    1. CdB
      September 19, 2025

      Fully agree!

  13. Dave Andrews
    September 19, 2025

    Power isn’t so soft for anyone missing their tax return date.

  14. Sakara Gold
    September 19, 2025

    This site rarely comments on football. But Marcus Rashford’s performance for his new club Barcelona last night was outstanding. He scored two excellent goals against Newcastle and when he came off – after 81 minutes – the Barcelona fans gave him a deafening standing ovation. These were the first goals scored for Barcelona by an Englishman since Gary Lineker’s last for the club in 1989

    Thomas Tuchel, the German manager of the England world cup squad, was in attendance. Tuchel is also a very good man manager. Expect to see lots more goals from Rashers when England lift the cup in America in 2026

    1. formula57
      September 19, 2025

      Let us hope that if and “when England lift the cup in America in 2026” it is a soft power event that is not intruded upon (and ruined) by a Government minister’s presence.

  15. formula57
    September 19, 2025

    You detect a “modern cultural flowering”?

    I am wrong not to, according to Grok, that tells me “The UK’s creative sector remains a global powerhouse. In 2023, it contributed £124.6 billion to the economy, growing faster than the overall economy (Creative Industries Economic Estimates). Film, music, fashion, and literature continue to thrive”. I must try to take more interest perhaps.

  16. Ian B
    September 19, 2025

    Sir John
    Soft Power? what’s that about? It sounds like a Political Elite ‘thinking’ they have ‘power’ beyond their own domain. It might juts happen if you have the ability to project military power, the UK cant even project its own borders.

    The other Friday morning laugh is the suggestion of influence whilst in the EU, there wasn’t even a balance or equal standing on trade it was just the UK surrendering as now its resources.

  17. Lynn Atkinson
    September 19, 2025

    Who cares?

  18. glen cullen
    September 19, 2025

    Soft power is a illusion ….our politicans love it because its relatively cheap and gives them a high profile, but on the other hand the ‘third’ world and criminals are laughing at us
    UK – For every food package or funds we supply the world we don’t have to recruit more costly soldiers at home, our safety is helping the world …..no its not

  19. Ian B
    September 19, 2025

    Singing the UK praises from the POTUS invitee team

    “The UK is going to be an AI superpower,” said Jensen Huang, head of $4tn (£2.9tn) chip giant Nvidia. If so, it is because this country is regulating AI as an opportunity to be seized, while the EU is regulating it as a threat to be contained.

    Then we are reminded of one of the big players in AI ‘DeepMind’ created by three guys from UCL Demis Hassabis, Shane Legg and Mustafa Suleyman that they sold to Google. Microsoft in on the act as well with MS AI (CoPilot) with ex Deepmind staff. All having HQ in the same neck of the woods in London.

    The full-filling of the dream is handicapped by the UK’s Government enforced high energy prices that act as a deterrent to the UK’s future. AI needs vast data banks, data banks need vast amount of energy and water, the UK Government and its Parliament ban these.

    The UK was the home of the worlds largest chip designer ‘ARM’ the Conservative Government got rid of it. They still supply the designs for 95% of the Worlds chips.

    The UK which is really the ‘people’ does have the can do can influence without drama, but is saddled with a Government and a Parliament that fights them.

    1. Ian B
      September 19, 2025

      This week’s meeting also confirmed

      The UK will be the only producer outside Russia of high-assay, low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for advanced reactors. It is a world player in fusion and is developing the first tritium-breeder facility that will supply American fusion companies with this critical and ultra-scarce isotope.

      We have the talent, we have the ability, we have the wherewithal to make things happen and the nation prosper. But we are hampered with a Government and Parliament that wants to trash it all because of their own personal ego

      1. IanT
        September 20, 2025

        “We have the talent, we have the ability, we have the wherewithal to make things happen and the nation prosper”

        But not in Westminster or Whitehall apparently…

  20. Original Richard
    September 19, 2025

    To the list of give-aways in the penultimate paragraph it is necessary to add that we are giving away our industry and prosperity to become a “clean energy superpower”, not that CO2 is a pollutant. It is absolutely necessary for all life on the planet and both climate history and the real science from Happer & Wijngaarden shows that increasing atmospheric CO2 has little, if any, warming effect.

  21. Ian B
    September 19, 2025

    It is said that 2TK is to open the UK to more financial punishment, in the same vein as the ‘Chagos’ deal invented by him, now with him seemingly alone recognising Palestine. Presumably it is to keep his old buddies that will do the advising for compensation well provided for.
    For the most part as Palestine was created and run by the British, it owns its modern History.
    If that is ‘soft power’ the UK could well do without it

    1. Ian B
      September 19, 2025

      I should have said what some see as soft-power, is what the UK Legal Profession and Political Class see as a good money earner and a ‘soft touch’

  22. Ian B
    September 19, 2025

    Today in the News… “Reeves borrows extra £11bn as spending and debt costs spiral ”

    Britain may be in the depths of a hiring recession, but one sector continues to take on ever more workers: the public sector.

    Almost 6.2 million people are now on the public payroll – more than at any point in 14 years and up by 75,000 in a year.

    ‘Soft Power’ – read Socialist Power

  23. Keith from Leeds
    September 19, 2025

    Soft power grows out of hard power. Hard power is a balanced budget, limited debt and strong armed forces.
    You can buy friends for a while, but when the money stops flowing, they quickly become enemies.
    The world and his wife know that Starmer is a weak leader with no backbone, as shown by the incredibly stupid Chagos deal, the fact that most of his MPs regard him with contempt and his kowtowing to the EU and Macron.
    Add to that his pathetic reshuffle, Ed Miliband refusing to move, clinging to Rachel Reeves, and employing tax fanatics, as well as his refusal to stop Net Zero spending, which ends up trying to solve a problem that does not exist.
    I doubt there is a President or Prime Minister or leader in the world who is not nice to his face, but regards hime with contempt behind his back.

    1. Ian B
      September 19, 2025

      @Keith from Leeds +1

  24. glen cullen
    September 19, 2025

    Option 1 Soft Power – Yesterday we returned an Indian national back to France under a on-in-one-out deal, allowing France to deport him to India and charging us
    Option 2 Hard Power – We sent an illegal Indian national directly back to India informing India that they have to take him back otherwise we’ll stop all visas
    We did option 1

    1. Original Richard
      September 19, 2025

      I heard that we are paying for a hotel room in Paris for a returned illegal migrant. is this true?

    2. Ian B
      September 19, 2025

      @glen cullen – and today so far (13:00 it hasn’t ended) we have invited 800 in for treats

      1. Mickey Taking
        September 19, 2025

        Do you mean lifetime care? Yes, I thought you did.

      2. glen cullen
        September 19, 2025

        one-in-one-out ……no no no no; its 800 in 2 out

        Reply With a one for one system it will always be none out

        1. glen cullen
          September 20, 2025

          I stand corrected ….we’re not ‘actually’ returning any, its a balance sum

  25. Jazz
    September 19, 2025

    Dear Sir John,
    Completely off topic.
    The OBR forecast £16 billion in VAT and the treasury received £12.8 billion. £3.2 billion out for April to August forecast. I think Reeves is a long way below par, but who would have a chance with such awful forecasting.

    1. Original Richard
      September 19, 2025

      The OBR need to employ the economists at the CCC. They can predict the cost of electricity from renewables and fossil fuels in 2050 and precisely the net cost of how much Net Zero 2050 will cost.

    2. Ian B
      September 19, 2025

      @Jazz – Most commentators here have remarked over the years with good evidence, that since the inception of the OBR during the Cameron/Clegg administration it has been consistently been wrong. It would appear it was a construct created to deflect attention from the inadequacies of that team and its Chancellor who simply didn’t know how to manage the Treasury.

      Given the result produced its a very costly Taxpayer funded waste of space.

      There is no indication that they have got better at their job, just better at taking the Taxpayers money.

      Then you have a point this current crowd think that Tax, is an income, not the removal of a resource from the economy. So if they keep spending they will keep expanding the economy and the countries GDP

  26. Bloke
    September 19, 2025

    Today David Lammy made a statement on TV about dealing with the small boats. The still background of many pale yellow bars made it appear as if he was commenting from inside prison, and was visually well composed, but he was not in prison today. AI described the background as a stock shot of a prison. That misled the audience. Soft power can be effective, but presenting such deception destroys trust.

  27. Peter Gardner
    September 25, 2025

    “Announcing with a fanfare we will smash the gangs and then showing the government just lets many more illegals in looks weak.”

    It looks weak because it is weak. The UK is a soft touch. Why? Because Starmer’s Gang hate Britain and hate its people. They are international socialists who believe nation states should not be sovereign and should not have borders. Instead they want an international socialist order. If they break Britain in the process of favouring Third world anti-Christian and Anti-Semitic cultures they believe it to be in a good cause. As Starmer says, if you don’t like it, the door is open.

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