Time was when the UK/Great Britain had the most powerful navy in the  world. Policy dictated having a larger navy than any other pair of powerful nations. The UK sought to keep the peace, settle disputes  and uphold its own imperial interests with this global mobile power.The first great German war stretched the UK military with victory only coming after the late arrival of the Americans. It was mainly a land war needing the French army. The second world war was a joint win for the  UK, Russia and the USA. Post 1945  UK was badly damaged by the war. We had large debts to repay to the US who made us borrow and pay for war supplies.  Government granted independence to many countries and accepted at Suez it could not  dictate events against the wishes of the US. Since then we have accepted that the USA is the dominant power. It is her turn to police the peace, impose or assist settlements of disputes and pursue her global interests.
We have also accepted that we usually  side with the US against the communist/authoritarian bloc. We are the second biggest contributor to NATO, which has provided collective defence in Europe against Soviet/Russian expansion.We did not join the US in their ill judged war in Viet Nam.
As I have previously shown, the UK has suffered badly from land wars and invasion threats  from continental Europe. We have not had ambitions to conquer and occupy European lands for the last 500 years. Our sea moat has enabled us to see off the most  aggressive imperial threats from Spain, France and Germany since 1500. As the US  reconsiders its commitment to European defence the UK should not rush to replace the US in offering protection to continental countries. We should buttress the defences of these islands and  look outwards to the rest of the world to expand our trade and friendships.
The UK defence priorities should be anti missile,drone and aircraft systems combining surveillance with effective response. We need a bigger navy to defend our coasts and shipping lanes. We need much more industrial capacity as you cannot defend yourself in war depending on imports.
March 3, 2025
Good morning.
The USA’s power lay in the fact that we also surrendered to them the status of the worlds Reserve Currency. From which she could spend, spend, spend.
The world is waking up to the fact that, this strength is also its weakness and that perhaps it is time to consider a new Reserve Currency (eg Crypto or gold) which cannot be used as a weapon against you.
As for the UK and its defence ? Yes we do have a moat surrounding us, but the drawbridge has been left wide open. Consequently, those who would seek us harm, who happen NOT to be Russian, even though they are actually at war and would have reason to flee, are happily waved on in by those who think we need to spend billions on the defence of others.
How generous with our money. And how foolish with our future.
March 3, 2025
Mark B
Yes you are right concerning the reserve currency. However there is talk of the USA monetising and revaluing it’s gold to market price.
Also there is talk that physical gold is leaving London and going to the USA.
Make of that what you can, but it looks like the “barbaric relic” is about to become rather important.
March 3, 2025
It’s more than talk -look at the Comex figures.India has also repatriated large amounts of its gold from the BoE.
That’s why the eastern powers have been buying it consistently for years-the new world order is falling into place.
March 3, 2025
I’m a Republican but the Republicans were wring over Iraq and Afghan (which I was arguing strongly at the time) including enticing the UK into these conflicts that cost us lives and ÂŁ20 Billion for no benefits whatsoever except extra stress. Supporting Ukraine is about resisting dangerus and clever Putin so as to return Europe to long-term security as quickly as possible which also benefits our energy and economy. And part of this is the opportunity for Russia to return to free elections and so opening up their energy and market to the UK and others for increased prosperity. Putin is on the ropes. But his appeasers are offering him the opportunity to go more rounds and the blows (and the angrier he will be and will always be angry unless for some divine intervention) this can inflict including on the UK’s security, energy and economy long-term as opposed to short-term.
Reply So do you vote in US elections? Did you vote Trump? Do you send the Republicans a membership fee?
March 3, 2025
Everyone in UK has opinion on US politics and how it affects UK. I’m no different. Plus I worked for US company for years and worked there for a while and travelled around and got a lot of friends there. I had an amazing time in USA.
March 3, 2025
Lastly, President Trump doesn’t mind people challenging him as long as they are warm, friendly, confident and humorous – and not rude, churlish, cocky, aggressive or passive aggressive. In fact, some of Mr Trump’s biggest enemies are those that once worked for him. Whilst he seems to like the likes of Keir Starmer. My approach is spot on even if some disagree with me.
March 3, 2025
Are you on what Zelensky is on?!
March 3, 2025
Reply to reply.I disagree ,one doesn’t need to belong to a party to favour their views.Perhaps the wording is slightly wrong but there again you have the advantage to know who each contributor is and if they care reasonably well known …their background.
March 3, 2025
I assume Miliband will insist they are all powered by batteries charged by solar cells or wind so let up hope the attack comes shortly after lunch time on a sunny summer day or on a windy day. How will it go after the underwater electricity connections (to other countries or to the wind turbines) are sniped or blown up by the enemy?
March 3, 2025
Another 500 potential recruits crossed the channel yesterday. According to migration watch, over 1.5 million visas and asylum claims were made in 2024. Many of these will never contribute to the tax base and many will spend the rest of their lives on benefits. Who’s sanctioning this madness.
March 3, 2025
I see the heat pump experiment in Westminster has failed. Recently installed pumps are being removed after staff complained about being cold and excessive noise pollution.
Not good enough for our rulers but good enough for the plebs.
I saw an advert for heat pumps and in the screen shot it showed area temperature at 18 degrees. This is nowhere near warm enough for the average house in winter. We set out thermostat at 22 degrees for a comfortable temperature.
March 3, 2025
The Globalists who want a one-world-government. They were doing the same to America until Trump was re-elected, lowered the portcullis, spelled out to various Latin American countries that there is a new Sheriff in Town, and started deporting the criminal migrants.
We need the same. We won’t find him in the Uni-Party.
March 3, 2025
I can only think of one potential individual, David Frost.
Badenoch and Tice are as bad as Starmer.
Well I knew that, Iâm very sorry – I would give ANYTHING to have Reform as a solution.
March 3, 2025
and yet our politicians instruct the home-office to stamp every visa …..non recorded foreign criminals come via the visa route and recorded criminals come via small boats
March 3, 2025
Hot News
‘European Commission president von der Leyen has just announced the EU will loosen enforcement of new climate regulations on carmakers’
https://order-order.com/2025/03/03/eu-watering-down-strict-carbon-enforcement-for-carmakers-as-production-crashes/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIyp9dleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHUUCmkJ6Gh4h9zAstM6x9A0CmbHeOG7DVBgzRSVTLoAttCLvVL1LrAYDTw_aem_fT4KV5RgbDDlQ4tRgBLuAQ
March 4, 2025
What a surprise. Germany isn’t prepared to sacrifice Mercedes, VW, BMW etc on the Net Zero SCAM.
March 3, 2025
Agreed. However, the last paragraph is unlikely to happen under the current government.
Kennedyâs âRise and Fall of the Great Powersâ identifies military overstretch as leading to decline. Industrial investment falls, crowded out for spending on armies, navies etc.
America was in this situation with China stealing a march on their economy. If they pivot defence away from Europe they will be better placed to address the issue.
The UK will continue with wasteful spending and posturing. We lack resolve even to defend our shores from unarmed invaders.
March 3, 2025
A good post john but 2TK thinks it’s hi Falklands moment. He’s strutting round like a Peacock without the assets to match.
He’s offering to be a peacekeeper bit only as long as the USA provides a backstop.
The man’s (deluded ed)and I bet Putin is having a good laugh.
Instead of policing the Ukrainian border he could make a start on ours. Perhaps the idea is to import an army to be deployed against us far right hurty people. 30 months jail for verbal abuse. 3 weeks for a politician doing actual bodily gate.
Welcome to topsy turvy Britain.
March 3, 2025
Yes, his posturing is hilarious.
He’s going to protect Ukraine (with who’s army?). Meanwhile he’s going to give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and pay them ÂŁ18 billion-or-more to lease them back; and he’s allowing tens of thousands of criminal migrants to flood into the UK for a life of Riley at British taxpayers’ expense.
And he thinks this is all a vote-winner đ
March 3, 2025
Boots on the ground? Who is he kidding? No chance – expect mass avoidance and family persuading the soldiers to quit the army. Not a war we can bring a land force to make a ha’p’orth of difference.
Do we have a Risk Register including thousands of bodybags?
March 3, 2025
With the army that, according to today’s Independent, is ‘in the worst state in their history. The Army is simply not prepared for such an overseas deployment’. Or possibly with Macron’s French army that’s just got chased out of Africa? Give me a break.
I’ve seen a lot of empty posturing by politicians in my time, but Starmer and his crew are just off the scale in terms of utter stupidity. They’re only able to get away with it thanks to the servile synchronised media, who tamely learned how to be obedient during the Covid crisis.
March 3, 2025
and sadly we don’t have any opposition to stop them
March 3, 2025
Dealing with Putin is going to hit the West financially and insecurity short-term but an absolute tonne of money to be made with Putin out of the picture long-term and long-term security. Those appeasing Putin are bonkers. But we still have to cautious with Putin. As President Trump says Putin IS ‘cunning’.
March 3, 2025
Of course he is cunning Ed .One just needs to look at his political infancy and see the man now with changed values like living in luxury , perpetuating war, lust for more and more power,which are the antipathy to his basic union views.
March 3, 2025
I’m currently reading a very obscure,American-published book written by a semi-pro historian (Robert L Willett) whose uncle was there:”Russian Sideshow-America’s Undeclared War ,1918-1920″ (2003) about the ill-fated American involvement in the disastrous western interventions in the Russian Civil War in the Archangel/Murmansk and Vladivostok regions.
The Americans arrived, achieved nothing, left their dead and departed.As the author writes:
“It seemed that the only fitting epitaph for them was the saddest that can ever be written above the graves of fallen soldiers-They Died in Vain.”
March 4, 2025
Uncontrolled UK borders and streets.
Street attacks common occurences in Europe.
Send British more forces from the UK overseas?
Sorry i dont trust 2TK.
Energy , Immigration, Defence Insanity & delusions.
March 3, 2025
Sir John,
I am as patriotic as the next man, -Am I still allowed to say that? But even I know that militarly, we are a shadow of our former selves. We have cut our armed services back and back to dangerous levels and starved those we retain of equipment. We have become a navy without ships, an air force without planes and an army without soldiers.
We make too little of our own stuff and are far too reliant upon other countries for everything from food to ships.
For me, one of the most telling remarks President Trump asked Sir Keir, was could you fight Russia on your own? I think everyone, including President Putin, know the answer.
We are only big and tough when we’re with our mates and should we go off threatening more powerful nations and our big mates don’t back us, we will not only look stupid, but we’ll be fatally wounded, perhaps never to recover.
It strikes me that Sir Keir is getting us deeper and deeper involved with the EU as a deceitful way to get us completely back in.
Sir Keir keeps saying the whole of the UK is behind Ukraine but, I wonder how true that is if push comes to shove and bombs start dropping.
It’s a mess.
March 3, 2025
Looked like a few of the 87,000 Ukrainians in London with their flags to me.
Hardly âthe whole of the U.K.â – I did not consider showing up – did you?
March 3, 2025
People who support President Trump on Ukraine as things are now are unintentionally pushing the UK back into the EU and perhaps some kind of EU army.
March 3, 2025
Americans donât care about the U.K., they are battling to recover themselves.
March 3, 2025
As a Republican, you should know that.
As a British conservative I can tell you that Trump is saving us from destruction at tne hands of the Globalists. Why do you think – from across the pond, that Britain should join the losing side just when our kith and kin are winning a famous victory over them?
We will stick to Trump thank you very much, and avoid fighting Christian, Capitalist, Democratic Russia.
March 4, 2025
summed up with – ‘America first’ – always been the mantra, nothing new in that!
March 3, 2025
As I predicted at least ten years ago,the Pax Americana is giving way to a modern version of the Pax Mongolica when the Mongol Empire unified China,Russia,Central Asia,Iran,the Transcaucasus,etc.controlling and policing the trade routes between China, the Middle East and the then relatively impoverished markets of Europe.The Mongols also provided something of a model because ,leaving aside the ferocity with which they assembled their empire, they were tolerant of local customs,laws,religions,etc-they couldn’t have cared less provided their subjects paid their tribute and did not interfere with the smooth flow of trade.
That is geopolitical check mate for the former maritime powers.Their role as parasitic middlemen is being phased out.
March 3, 2025
Britain has NEVER been a âparasitic middlemanâ. We have been one of the greatest creators of wealth the world has ever seen.
Thatâs why this current situation is so distressing.
March 3, 2025
â We have not had ambitions to conquer and occupy European lands for the last 500 years.â
Conquering and occupying is a real shot in the arm for an economy – initially at least. All the raw materials and wealth it can offer.
A privately run navy was able to loot Spanish galleons in the olden days.
American interest in Greenland, The Panama Canal, Canada etc reflects this. You donât have to stick a flag on territory anymore. You can get the benefits in other ways.
Self interest trumps free trade. Tariffs can hobble competition. Free trade only works for economies that have things other countries cannot offer. The Industrial Revolution gave Britain this advantage for a while. By the time of the First World War Germany was a threat and the American economy was already outgrowing the UK.
March 3, 2025
I largely agree, but, being an island, we must properly defend our shipping lanes to the Middle East, and North Sea infrastructure. That means a much bigger blue water navy, contributing a lot more to maritime security in the Gulf, the Atlantic, and the Mediteranean.
Realistically, we have to draw a line at the Pacific : We cannot justify or afford to assist the US and our friends in the Pacific by providing warships. We can provide invalable help through our contribution to the Five Eyes Intelligence partnership and AUKUS, but sending warships to the Pacific is beyond our ability, even if and when spending is restored to 5% of GDP.
If we make a far better contribution to bolster UK, European, and Middle Eastern defence, The US will understand and respect us more as its most valuable European ally and we will still be the second biggest contributor to NATO.
Despite the desire of the unreliable French to dominate European defence, the US will probably feel far happier to leave it the UK to lead on organising European defence, as long as our own armed forces, and others, are restored to being a credible counter to Russia.
That will actually mean something to the US President, and, importantly, will allow him to focus more on what China is doing in the Pacific, which has to be his greatest concern.
March 3, 2025
Niall Ferguson, the historian, recently referred to Adam Ferguson’s law (from the 1760s) that any empire that spent more on interest on its debt than it spent on defence was finished. This was true of past European based empires including the British. He pointed out that the USA had now reached that point. Like it’s predecessors the US empire of control and influence suffers from imperial overreach. The Trump administration effectively is acknowledging that limitation.
The UK position today is weak. It has no missile defence. It cannot put more than a few thousand “boots on the ground”. Much of its past, critical industrial capacity is long since dead. It must import food, energy, weapons, ammunition and defence technology to defend itself. It is in an extraordinarily weak position against missile and submarine based warfare. I agree with your conclusions.
March 3, 2025
Sensible suggestions from a thoughtful analysis. If only those in power would think realistically about our long term interests, rather than short term posturing.
We should not instigate wars overseas, or look around for existing conflicts that we can join. I’m hugely disappointed that we’re going to throw more effort and taxpayers’ money at Ukraine.
Much better a fortress Britain which secures its borders not just by military power, but also by legislating in its national interest, to keep illegal migrants out.
March 3, 2025
Most people seem not to know what the Ukraine war is REALLY about and why the UK is so involved.For enlightenment might I suggest Judge Napolitano’s 17/2/25 interview with former British diplomat and MI6 operative,Alastair Crooke,on his youtube channel,’Judging Freedom’ titled :”It’s Trump & Putin’s World Now.”
March 3, 2025
Thank you. I watched it and have subscribed. It’s always good to be pointed towards another sensible Podcaster.
March 3, 2025
Having written that I see the apparent contradiction in my last sentence. I mean we have to legislate to stop judicial overreach that subverts the intention of our existing laws, or makes them unenforceable.
March 3, 2025
Three years ago Britain followed it’s tradition of supporting the underdog with help for Ukraine, which Putin decided to invade – citing the usual imperial imperatives. That brave Ukraine has been able to hold back the Russians is a testament to the training we gave their army, and of course the military and economic support from the USA, ourselves and the EU. Many are now of the view that WW3 has already begun
We have suffered catastrophic cuts to our military strength, in part to pay for the carriers but also because maintaining our nuclear deterrent is ruinously expensive. We are building new ballistic submarines which will still be using American Trident II missiles; however we have had to develop replacement warheads as our Holbrook bombs (designed in the 1960s and built in the 1970’s) have reached the end of their working lives. This has required the expensive rebuilding of our nuclear weapon production facilities at Burghfield and elsewhere.
We must now rebuild our military, which is going to be costly. To the surprise of many, the new Labour government has acknowledged the danger and will be finding more money for defence. The overwhelming need, however is manpower. I suggest that conscription may be necessary; we should call up the boat people and those who were not born here first. That will be a better deterrent than the ÂŁ400million Rwanda fiasco.
March 4, 2025
“we should call up the boat people and those who were not born here first.”
A joke I presume? We’ve got Human Rights Lawyers as PM and Attorney General (I suppose it would be a nice little earner for them representing the conscripts against a future British Government)…. and a Government stuffed with virtue-signalling lefties.
March 3, 2025
All very sensible, and in the interests of the UK Sir John. Which is why Two-Tier won’t do it.
He’s desperate to drag us back into the EU in all but name and what better way of doing it than supporting and joining “A European Defence Force.” (Mustn’t call it a European Army – might give people the idea that it means OUR military being put under the control of the EU).
The UK was/is a global trading nation. Our interests (economic, cultural and military) are global, not restricted to our own backyard in Europe. Churchill spelled it out very clearly “we have our own dream and our own task. We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked, but not comprised. We are interested and associated, but not absorbed…. If Britain must choose between Europe and the open sea, she must always choose the open sea.”
I have no problem with the idea that the UK can act as a bridge between the USA and Europe (the EU), but the point of a bridge is that it is a link and has a foot in both camps – but in order to be effective it cannot be under the control of one side.
We need an Establishment and Government which pays a great deal more attention to the interests of the British people, and a great deal less to the “demands” of both the USA and the EU.
March 3, 2025
A strong navy is nothing without air cover. Neither is an army.
Air dominance is where it is at. Drones, missiles, and cyber. But yes we also need a navy which can repel and land forces which can overwhelm. That is a lot of money.
Might I suggest that our armed forced should worry less about diversity (yet be welcoming to any recruit) and more about potential to be trained and excel.
March 3, 2025
We donât need soldiers or airmen or sailors anymore. We need computer operators and drones. We need politicians who donât pick fights with the greatest powers on earth. We need a nuclear âdomeâ and a published procedure so that everyone knows that no âdecisionâ will be taken if they attack us – the deployment of our nukes will be automatic.
That is what you could call âA Defence Forceâ.
March 3, 2025
There will always be a need for fodder Lynn
March 3, 2025
Not at all. Have you not been watching the conflict in Ukraine? By far the most successful combatants are the ones aiming and firing the Iskandars etc. They go home to a warm bed and supper. Start fresh the next day. Probably why they are winning.
March 3, 2025
Control of vast contiguous land mass is “where it’s at”-impervious to naval power.
That’s why the Russia-China-Iran Eurasia axis is game over for the Atlanticists and why the US is seeking rapprochement with Russia which is firmly at the centre of this new world order.You now need to look at the world map not from the old Eurocentric mercator projection angle but from one which has the international dateline from the Bering Straits down the Pacific at its centre.On this basis,America stares at Russia and China across the Pacific whilst the UK becomes the back of beyond-Timbuktu-two you might say!
No-one’s interested in invading the UK.Why would they bother?
March 3, 2025
Nothing important is going to be instigated until the results of the defence review are known.
I trust Lords Richards and Robinson, my only concern is that I feel sure their first draft will say that things are so bad and the threats so serious that we need to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP immediately.
The Government will then spend weeks applying pressure for them to water down their conclusions to match what Theeves and 2TK are prepared to spend. They will refuse, and their report will be buried.
March 3, 2025
They are known! Nothing can happen militarily unless Starmer gets off himself đ€đ»
March 3, 2025
All the points made are very valid.
But it is the last point that is crucial to our future security and wellbeing.
We need industrial capacity but this must include primary steel. Industrial capacity is dependent on energy. Therefore, it is essential that we maintain fossil fuel extraction and pursue nuclear power including SMR’s using our own technology.
Leaving ourselves beholden to others in an increasingly unpredictable world order will end in disaster.
March 3, 2025
Quite right that “… the UK should not rush to replace the US in offering protection to continental countries”, indeed it should not do so at all. Starmer alas plainly has other ideas: hopefully Putin and Trump between them can thwart his immediate plans.
March 3, 2025
+1 and Kaja Kallis, who wants âus collectivelyâ to take on Russia and Chinaâ – a mirror image of Liz Truss.
These women are dangerous!
March 3, 2025
I see the EU has used the opportunity to make it know that if UK signs a free trade agreement with USA they will be punished. What a charming organisation it is. If Starmer had anything about him he’d threaten the EU with withdrawal of any UK military support on Ukraine unless they agreed to his trade demands – it’s what Trump would do.
March 3, 2025
Starmer should withdraw our fishing grounds, Northern Ireland and all military support FOR THE EU!
March 3, 2025
Sir John
As you allude to things have moved on. However, you also show that being resilient and self-reliant is an effective tool. The compromise of being at the mercy of political whims elsewhere is no security at all. That in reality means Government, Parliament our democratically elected MPs have failed in their first duty âto keep us safeâ.
As it stands to keep the country going we need safe routes for food and raw material supplies, our Parliaments approach is⊠âoh please can you help!â there is a bully trying to hurt us â then waiting to see if another Countryâs government will respond to our pleading. That is a Parliament wishing to surrender.
March 3, 2025
There is no going back to the past we have to see things as they are now and agreed we have to look outwards to the rest of the world to expand our trade and friendships however first we have to secure things at home. Right now it look like the biggest threat to our well being is coming from Putins Russia but that could change and in a short while it could be China that is threatening so for this reason we need to shore up our defences – scouts motto – and I don’t think we can rely on the American umbrella anymore either in fact if the rare earth minerals did not figure it could be that the US may have already departed the scene as far as Ukraine is concerned. We are on our own now just the same as European countries are on their own – so what to do about it?
March 3, 2025
I very much agree with what you say here, Sir John. But are we hearing the same from Badenoch or Farage? Not really. Members of their parties need to speak out more.
March 3, 2025
Yes we do – but first we need a government that works for us, such that it:
– will look after the interests of the UK;
– is ready to handle the problems created by successive governments, like too much immigration, over-taxation, two tier justice, oppressive regulations, lack of free speech, woke, the failing NHS, a failed civil service, ETC, ETC;
– will stop supporting war efforts for some hidden agenda;
– will be open and honest at all times.
As regards the type of war machine we should have – that should be defined by those that fully understand what is feasible. Any attacks we would have to defend against needs to be fully evaluated and real options created.
I cannot see too many countries that would attack us. Our biggest enemies are those within – and our leaders.
March 3, 2025
I agree with this wholeheartedly.
Most of all we should not engage in needlessly irritating foreign countries, or siding with countries who are already at war, especially if they are losing. Our British men are not good at the games of psychological warfare. They are used to play with a straight bat.
I was mulling over Zelenskyâs extraudinary conduct in front of the Press in the Oval Office, it dawned on me that he was trying to panic the American people âyou will have to fight – you will feel my influenceâ etc. He was trying to get âregime changeâ in the USA!
The deluded leaders of these small filing countries honestly think they can engineer âregime changeâ in Russia – why not in The USA too?
Iâm afraid there is going to be a monumental price to pay for embracing Zelensky the day after he tried to publicly âregime changeâ Trump.
March 4, 2025
Zelensky had met with the pro-war faction in America before his meeting with Trump. He was “teed up” to resist the deal Trump had negotiated in front of the cameras.
March 3, 2025
Dear Mr. Redwood,
What a pity the Prime Minister does not exhibit the same enthusiasm for solving domestic problems as he is currently demonstrating in his rush to throw the UK into offering protection to European countries.
He is following in a long line of UK Premiers who have sought solace dabbling on the international stage, having failed to deal with matters at home for which they were elected. Thus, they seek to establish their precious ‘legacy’.
Our Prime Minister promises boots on the ground and planes in the air and a joint nuclear umbrella. In return for what? He would be justified in telling our so-called ‘European friends and partners’ to get stuffed because of the way they have behaved to us since the Brexit vote.
Suddenly, the political elite wake up to the fact that they have left us practically naked and undefended having devastated our armed forces to pay for an ever-expanding welfare bill. Short-term thinking doesn’t begin to describe the failure of successive governments in their principal duty – the defence of the realm.
March 3, 2025
APJ,
Starmer is thinking of his memoirs. ‘We are at a crossroads’ has a dramatic ring to it.
Many politicians enjoy the international statesman stuff. It is an escape from domestic criticism.
March 5, 2025
Crossroads Motel more like!Complete with the wooden acting,wobbly sets and cardboard props.
March 3, 2025
Harold Wilson was widely regarded as a bungling PM, but his refusal to commit British forces to combat in Vietnam was a most sensible decision.
March 3, 2025
Harold Wilson was a colossus in comparison with the present crowd.
Mike Yardwood was a colossus in comparison with the present crowd.
(For the youngsters, Mike Yarwood did brilliant impersonations of Wilson and Heath, but was more sound politically than either).
March 4, 2025
Everyone can appear better when compared with someone even worse.
Mike Yarwood was good on his own merit.
March 3, 2025
I took the time to watch the Zelenskyy/Trump interview from start to finish. Given that the press call was about signing an agreed mineral deal, I am not suprised that it did not go well. The Press have focused on the last 10 minutes or so. I understand that Zelenskyy might not be happy with his situation but he really didn’t handle this meeting at all well. When he told Trump that American soldiers would be involved sooner or later on live TV, I think that lite a slow fuse. Trump was very charming for the first two thirds of the interview but it really turned sour when Zelensky started calling Putin a lying murderer etc. This is perfectly true but hardly the thing you say when your ‘mediator’ is trying to get both two sides together. I have always supported Ukraine and wish them well in this stuggle but I think Zelenskyy overplayed his hand. As Trump told him – you have no cards left to play.
I then watched Starmer announce “Boots on the Ground” (and planes in the sky) and my heart just sank. Suddenly Starmer is discovering his inner Churchhill and finding money and manpower that we simply don’t have. Of course, it made better headlines than 500 illegals coming ashore or our economy collapsing.
As someone who in the 70’s, sat in an armoured vehicle for 72 hours about half a mile from the East German border, in full radio slience waiting to see if this was my last week on earth – I don’t want our troops anywhere near Ukraine. We might not like it but Trumps solution is far, far better than many of the alternatives.
March 3, 2025
Zelensky offered this deal, you know that? Heâs been touting it for months.
March 3, 2025
505 criminals arrived in the UK yesterday; from the safe country of France âŠ.whatâs the point of a bigger Royal Navy if we donât empower them to repel nor return boats back to France !
March 3, 2025
It was 592 Glen – I guess another 87 snuck in before closing time….
March 3, 2025
Updated – 592 …..yes 592
March 3, 2025
GC – Worse than that – finalised as 592 on 11 boats ( official stats ) The government’s optimism of reducing the use of hotels by March is smashed, as anyone sensible expected, without radical change & speedy change of laws.
Lovely, calm, bright sunny day today …..
March 3, 2025
France and most of Europe are safe and peaceful. Instead of paying smugglers to risk a dangerous journey, asylum seekers could send an email to the Foreign Office stating what they want and receive a simpler faster outcome with less waste and trauma.
March 3, 2025
Zelensky is a conman. When the war with Russia started those who had managed to come by the assets of Ukraine when the Soviet Union collapsed, debunked to Israel. Zelensky is using our money and arms and Ukrainian blood to fight Russia with the intention that after a victory, the assets of Ukraine would revert to the previous possessors. However, he and the rest of the West need to understand that those lands historically occupied by Russia will remain with Russia as Russia has made it quite clear that the encroachment of NATO towards its border presents an existential threat to its existence and will keep on fighting until the threat has been removed and nor will the Russians living in the South East ever agree to rule by those who murdered many when they were defenceless in 2014 causing millions to flee to Russia. (The Kiev regime claims they were kidnapped!)
March 3, 2025
For historical background look up the Khazar empire and what happened to it.
March 3, 2025
In 1946 J.M. Keynes suffered heart attacks during negotiations for the Anglo-American WW2 war loan he was trying to secure favourable terms for the UK a process he described as “absolute hell”. Shortly after returning Keynes died of a heart attack.
He knew the USA would leave Britain broke indebted for a lifetime (whilst it prospered and funded the rebuilding of Europe and Germany in particular).
Post-war the saying “the Americans want their pound of flesh” and Trump and Vance reminded me of that trying to break Zelenski who Putin couldn’t for trying so long.
March 3, 2025
The UK got more Marshall Aid than the continent. We could have paid off our war debt, rebuilt the U.K. but we chose to squander it on Socialist clap-trap.
Take responsibility for your own and our countryâs condition. Itâs as a result of a series of decisions.
March 4, 2025
Nonsense…Germany got rebuilt under it, we continued to decay while paying the USA for their ‘investment’ elsewhere.
March 3, 2025
USA made us pay for their contribution to previous wars, while needing to keep the aggressor from their door and influence.
Then it was using Japan for their own ends. Today it is hoping to empty Ukraine of rare earth materials, just like China is trying to do worldwide.
Smart Presidents they elect in America.
March 3, 2025
This is not Starmer’s Maggie moment, even though they think it is sitting at the top of the table with Macron. These EU leaders were telling us we were nothing after Brexit, a small Country with no Empire and no say or sway, yet here we are being led to pay more, do more and step up. We should do a fair share and no more. There are plenty of EU members who do significantly less. It’s ok Poland claiming it does more, but it does more because their State is propped up by EU funding, they are a taker, not a giver.
We never exerted disproportionate influence on the world stage because we were a part of the EU, so why start now? Did any of the EU members join in with Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, to what degree? We are filling up with lots of young men without purpose or function for years on end, we are in a mess and this is going to make things worse.
March 3, 2025
Poland benefits from âremittancesâ from itâs huge diaspora in the U.K.
March 3, 2025
UK Governments are still hung up when it comes to defense on a spend as a percentage of GDP, not on what is necessary. Itâs a bit like not paying oneâs house of car insurance and then crying for someone to bail them out when things go wrong.
The contradiction is they then hand criminal people traffickers an income, and furnish criminal entry into the UK with financial rewards they could only before have dreamt of, spending on discrimination – with DEI departments, spending as a means of taxpayer punishment on NutZero, and many, many more hairbrained schemes. All of which will not ensure UK the a future, will not improve peopleâs or the Countryâs wealth, and wellbeing. When you look at it this money being thrown here there and every were â all of which is not even figuring as a percentage of GPD – just personal, very personal whims. Yet the Countries safety and security is left un-paid, its insurance policy is allowed to lapse.
Seemingly these lapses in responsibility are to let individuals pander to ego and for what they believe is their self-esteem. It is everyone else that will pay not those we empower and pay to do a job, the job of managing the Country for everyoneâs benefit.
March 3, 2025
Our absent PM and his Government wants âa coalition of the willingâ to defend against Putinâs threat as EU chief pledges to make Ukraine âporcupine that cannot be ingestedâ
The PM âThe UK and France plus possibly one other will protect the EUâ 27 nations asleep while their unelected unaccountable protectionist bureaucratâs flourish.
Is this just egotistical grandstanding from our absent PM who canât even manage the UK, cant set the UK economy are a positive path, refuses to allow the UK to fund a proper its on proper defense and security. Would see the UKâs destruction to force it back under control of the EU unelected and unaccountable.
The PM is wrong, this is not a UK thing.
March 3, 2025
Agreed, Sir John.
I canât understand why the government is rushing ahead with talk of âboots on the groundâ before a ceasefire in Ukraine has been agreed.
It is not clear Russia will accept a ceasefire with NATO as peacekeepers.
March 3, 2025
It is VERY clear that they will not accept a ceasefire or NATO troops as peacekeepers. They have said so ad nauseaum.
March 3, 2025
It is perfectly clear Russia will NOT accept NATO nation peacekeepers-or a truce that allows Ukraine to be re-supplied.
March 3, 2025
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/03/zelensky-private-press-conference-peace-deal/
“I posed a question about the occupied territories, asking whether any agreement could involve surrendering land to Russia, particularly in regions it claims as its own, despite the continued presence of Ukrainian troops.
Zelenskyâs response was unequivocal: any peace deal that involved such concessions would not be peace â it would be âa forced capitulation.â
This was a crucial point, for it is widely believed that president Putin will never accept a peace agreement that does not cede entire regions he has annexed, inhabited by millions of Ukrainians, to Russia.”
On which basis Starmer has now got us involved in a war which will carry on until one of them is removed.
March 3, 2025
Ukraine and itâs backers in the immediate future.
March 3, 2025
Remember Sunak called the election knowing he would lose it because he did not want to be “a wartime PM” according to Andrew Bridgen last year.
March 5, 2025
Then Sunak shouldn’t have stood for PM because this Ukraine war was already underway. He worked so hard to betray Boris and get into place I’m not sure I believe Bridgen.
March 5, 2025
At the time the war was not going quite so badly for Ukraine-and I can well believe that a naive individual like Sunak would have accepted the ‘Ukraine is winning’ propaganda deluge-at least until it became clear the much-touted Ukrainian counter-offensive had turned into a disaster.
March 3, 2025
An excellent post which sums up the situation we are in. Our first priority should be stopping all immigration for at least 3 to 5 years. Tighten up our laws so we can deport the illegal immigrants who are already here. Stop giving UK citizenship to people from foreign cultures that oppose our culture and way of life.
We should double the size of our army and expand our navy/air force, first to the size we can defend the UK and then to the size that deters aggression from hostile countries. We should also rebuild our industrial base and pursue energy and food security as quickly as possible. Cheap, reliable energy is the key to success in any economy.
But because that is simple common sense, there is no chance of this Labour Government doing it.
March 5, 2025
We can’t even stop immigration for 3-6 weeks.
Although I did read students who want to bring their dependent families over to study for a short time and work are no longer going to UK universities a loss of near 200,000, certain universities like Coventry were in the press about it yesterday. We should look at how successful Coventry grads have been for the last decade, where there students go to work, how many paid in full or ended up subsidised.
March 3, 2025
“We need much more industrial capacity as you cannot defend yourself in war depending on imports.”
Is that why our ruling elites in Parliament want to de-industrialise us using the CAGW scam and its “solution” Net Zero?
No intelligent person who has looked at the climate data can possibly believe that CO2, let alone anthropogenic emissions of CO2, cause global warming.
March 3, 2025
This is all true but how do the ordinary citizens of the country get this through to government? We can’t keep waiting for elections every few years when something urgent needs doing and we don’t like what is offered.
March 3, 2025
Odd that Starmer seems to intend to present this peace deal heâs cooking up to Trump. Why isnât he going to present it to Putin ? Itâs all absolutely absurd, Putin wonât agree any peace deal that involves NATO troops being in Ukraine.
March 3, 2025
Trump has already rejected the EXACT same âdealâ presented by Zelensky.
Starmer seems to be a very limited individual.
March 4, 2025
Why do i feel a situation is being manipulated to cause a future false flag event and drag us into a wider war?
March 4, 2025
I said the same thing over a week ago.