The principle of the US revolution or war of Independence was “No taxation without representation”. It all began with Parliament’s imposition of import taxes or tariffs on products into the US. These were so unpopular most were repealed, leaving a tax on tea. That remained unpopular, so Parliament compounded the issue by giving a tax advantage and a monopoly to the East India Company, leading to the famous Boston tea party protest. Follow up legislation to punish Boston led to war.
UK governments should study this. It is an excellent extreme example of how much damage unfair and high taxation can cause. It is a reminder of the doughty independence of the English settlers who went to America to make a new life, who were impelled to self government by crass arrogance of the British establishment, and by the inadequate bungling of the professional British army against people fighting for their freedoms.
Today the US/UK alliance is strained again. The mighty and strong US resents the failure of the UK and the EU to make a proper contribution to our own defence, preferring to rely on the US nuclear and expeditionary umbrella. The US President cannot understand the self harm of the UK refusing to use its own oil and gas reserves, weakening its national security. He is concerned about the high levels of illegal migration into the UK and EU , and critical of extra taxes and regulations imposed on successful digital corporations. He cannot understand why the UK wants to give away the Diego Garcia base to an ally of China.
The UK objects to some of the President’s language. The government rightly points out the UK military has supported many US wars in the Middle East in recent decades, and has suffered substantial losses through being in the thick of the action. The UK’s aircraft carriers are serious weapons of war, not toys. The UK does not have to join a military action against Iran that the US undertakes.
The King is doing his best to bridge the growing divide, but is getting no help from the PM. Surely this is the time to admit it was wrong to try to give Diego Garcia away? It is time to announce the UK will not be imposing carbon based tariffs on US imports in the way the EU is. The PM should urgently address the trade tensions as the US is our most important single country trade partner by a big margin.
Meanwhile, for our own national security, the PM needs to come up with a budget that can provide for our immediate defence needs. That must include early and intensive work to get most of our naval ships ready to go on patrol again. It must include a big increase in effort on drones and robot fighters. It is esential we build a protective dome over our islands against missile and drone attack.
April 29, 2026
Good Morning,
An interesting analogy with yesterday’s whipped vote on Starmer’s referral to the Privilege Committee. Starmer’s heavy handed management of his backbenchers must surely leave even more concerns over his suitability for high office. Persuasion is always better than brute force.
April 29, 2026
Starmer is determined to give away Chagos and will not relinquish office until he’s successful.
He doesn’t want good relations with the USA because he prefers the EU. The EU can provide him with further tax free employment when he’s finally ejected, the USA won’t offer him anything.
Of course Trump is right on the self harm being done by net zero and the refusal to exploit our own resources. America is self sufficient in most things and doesn’t understand Europe’s reluctance to protect its supply lines.
We are being dragged into irrelevance by a bunch of (wrongly directed? ed) lawyers hiding behind the facade of non existent International Law.
April 29, 2026
Correct. Since he now knows his days in No.10 are numbered, he’ll be ramping up his efforts to apply for an International Role (ECHR, ICJ etc) when he’s kicked out.
April 29, 2026
as will many of his deluded and destructive Fabian mates.
April 29, 2026
@Peter Wood – all true supporters of the regime. They all get to ‘own’ every bit of the Government output. But that is Socialism for you, it overrides the meaning of Democracy at every stage
April 29, 2026
Exactly another stupid move by Starmer. I assume all the “diversity is out strength” and “climate alarmism” protect the ice at the poles nonsense was inserted by this dire Starmer!
JR “It is essential we build a protective dome over our islands against missile and drone attacks” sound rather expensive and we well might need help and advice from the USA and Israel the country Lammy has refused to supply with certain defence equipment. Then we might need to protect our under sea electricity, oil, gas and communication connections! All already mapped out it seems by Russian Subs.
April 29, 2026
In King Charles’s Speech I meant. The Earth has only had ice at the poles for under 20% of the life of the Earth so perhaps it is rather unlikely that a few wind farms and farms covered in solar panels is going to control the planet so as it stay in the current ice age state. CO2 is just one small factor of thousands that affects the climate!
To make God laugh tell him your plans!
May 1, 2026
That’s still a billion years – not 20! Or 20 times older than the Himalayas. Or 15 times older than when Tyrannosaurus rex was roaming the earth .. Or 4 times longer it took for the plants to turn into the fuel to drive your car. Or if light travelled a billion light years it would have travelled 5.88 x10^21 miles ..
April 29, 2026
This Starmer government is doing it’s best to pretend to spend on defence, but clearly doesn’t want to. See today in Telegraph Reeves is expected to have to borrow even more than last expected, Gilt rates rising….
Isn’t it odd that we’re running scared of a country (Russia) with a GDP of US$2.5 Trillion, against the UK’s US$4.0 Trillion. Can we not at least match the risk posed by Putin.
April 29, 2026
+1 it seems not!
April 29, 2026
Try ppp comparison and then compare their military with ours.
After that listen to one of Putins livestream 4 to 5 hour annual Question Time with the worlds Press – no questions submitted beforehand. Then listen to PMQs ….
It hurts me – because the British are an extraordinary people, unparalleled, but we are not in the same league.
April 29, 2026
….. Currently! If we recover our country and nation then we are in business again.
May 1, 2026
Russia isn’t a country (although a great people + culture for sure).
It’s one psychopathic tyrant and a few billionaires who run an extortionist racket where to live safely, free from hassle, you have to be poor (the relatively small middle class – mainly in Moscow and St Petersburg – have to pay bribes to remain in business. Russia effectively governed by the mafia (and if it wants to become a country, it’s got to at least get as far as Magna Carta which we celebrated back in 1215. ‘Russia’ is light years behind Magna Carta. In fact, Magna Carta was created precisely for tyrants such as Putin).
And what a lot of old [tragic] phooey The Russian Revolution was when you consider Putin is way more powerful – in a corrupt sense – than poor old Tsar Nicholas came close to being.
May 2, 2026
‘but rather focus on what it means for a man to be a KING!’ – and not by nagging but by being supportive, encouraging, challenging in a positive way, forgiving, nurturing, loving and prayer for him (as I am sure Jane Austen, being a good, down-to-earth, Christian and wise British woman – the best! – would strongly agree).
April 29, 2026
Good morning.
The situation regarding the American War of Independence is a little more complex than one of settlers dressing up as Native Americans and throwing tea in to the river. The British have been fighting another war with France (who else ?) and needed to recoup the costs. The American settlers were enjoying the protection of the British Government but were not contributing enough, or so it was thought. The strength of independence really was not that great but that soon changed. And that is an highly abridged version of events.
The point is, it was avoidable. We kept Canada, but lost the Americas’.
Reply My point is imposing new taxes caused it. Hence their great slogan, No taxation without representation.
April 29, 2026
@Mark B – the UK Parliament wanted tax, more tax, but denied Democracy, denied Representation – sounds familiar. Who’d would have thought a UK Parliament would resort to black-mail and intimidation of a People on the back of its own very personal ‘ego’? Today 250 years on and they till don’t ‘get it’
April 29, 2026
That’s all it is, a slogan. If the US really believed in “No taxation without representation” they would let non-citizen permanent residents vote and they wouldn’t levy an exit tax on those leaving the US.
April 29, 2026
The easy solution is to have no non citizen permanent residents.
The USA has no departure or exit tax.
April 29, 2026
Reply to Reply :
Perhaps giving some representation would have solved the problem? It continues today as the EU deliberately applies taxes, laws, rules, regulations and directives without representation.
April 29, 2026
“crass arrogance of the British establishment”
They didn’t learn the lesson then and they still haven’t. Evidence?
1. The crass arrogance on display ever since a clear majority of the British people voted to LEAVE the EU.
2. Decades of immigration, and 20 years of mass immigration, despite the British people consistently voting for less immigration.
The consequences are a broken country and the two legacy parties both facing obliteration on 7 May.
Two-Tier will do nothing to help Charles Windsor smooth the relationship with the USA because he WANTS a rift. It will appeal to the extreme lefties in the Labour and Islamist-Green Party and be used to justify his ambition to make us rejoin the EU.
He is not working in the interests of the UK.
April 29, 2026
The UK also a deeply divided country. The best way to get rid of socialism is to demonstrate unity and joint success through Conservative politics. The politics of Edmund Burke and co. Even within right-wing politics there is a lot of disunity and bitterness. You find same in left-wing politics as well. Sad situation. We should be united and happy despite our disagreements. Life’s too short.
April 29, 2026
It’s King Charles – not Charles ‘Windsor’. Charles does not equal the Crown. He is merely its figurehead. And when people insult the Crown they insult all people within the Crown. So you can have your private reservations about Charles but in public always refer to him, please, as ‘king’ not Charles Windsor. Thank you! (And if you don’t want a monarchy then wait until a democratic referendum)
April 29, 2026
So you demand ‘King Charles’ from others and they chummily call him ‘Charles’ yourself.
May 1, 2026
Nonsense!
I referenced him initially as King Charles. But called him ‘Charles’ in the context of not repeating ‘King’ which is good English! The respect is there with ‘King’ and the endearment with ‘Charles.’ For Charles is also his name. But he is never to be addressed as ‘Windsor.’
And of course in person you greet him as ‘Your Majesty’ or ‘Sir.’
There is nothing wrong in my etiquette. But your humourless and cross comment would be frowned upon in royal circles! (And is frankly not very British – more French I would say).
May 1, 2026
Although the royal family would hate the word ‘etiquette’ – very vulgar word. Apologies.
April 29, 2026
@Donna – creating a rift was part of the ‘Plan’. Socialism cant align itself with any form of Democracy and Freedon
April 29, 2026
I agree – Starmer (I assume) even made the King mention Climate Alarmism, the ice at the poles and “diversity is our strength”. He went on about US and UK growth the UK have had virtually no real growth this century with the USA heading to be twice as rich per capita now.
April 29, 2026
Fifth columnist.
April 29, 2026
I think Starmer is diverted at the moment. What with the Mandelson affair, the Ukrainians firebombing his property and trying to convince the British public to vote for his incompetent rabble next week.
April 29, 2026
@Old Albion – I disagree, these distractions are just that distractions, allowing the ‘Plan’ of a personal Marxist State with comrade Starmer as its ruler to come to fruition. All the while people have been watching the Pantomime 2TK has buried us deeper under EU control, under EU Laws, on the EU being fed more UK Taxpayer Money. The detractions were not him being detracted, but him distracting everyone else while he got on with the ‘Plan’
His persona is one of a bumbling fool, but more fool us, this is one of the Countries brightest, most manipulative top of the profession Lawyers running rings around the Country and he is winning by a country mile
April 29, 2026
He is not called Stalin for nothing.
April 29, 2026
Yes, particularly with regard to defence, Starmer is now very clearly far more interested in saving his own skin rather than ours.
April 29, 2026
Indeed not much reporting of the fire bombings yet?
April 29, 2026
At end of day, it all comes down to owning your own house or paying rent. The Americans, sooner or later, wanted their own house. Not a landlord.
The Roman Empire great exception to the rule of empire. The Romans offered something of real value over those they governed (a thriving civilisation under which trade could thrive in an extraordinary way – in a way though unique to that time in history).
British Empire to a degree too in India.
And I think it boils down to Christian values and the best of the Greco-Roman world – combined – which the Americans could enjoy without the British. Eventually.
April 29, 2026
Not forgetting monarchy is not enough of an incentive to remain part of Britain thousands of miles away. Look at how the French treated their king about the same time. Canada the exception. But the Canadians ultimately govern themselves – not the British government. The monarchy more of just a figurehead than real power.
April 29, 2026
Ed, the Monarch is just the figurehead everywhere he is King.
Britain is an effective republic who found a role for the Monarch. Figurehead.
The British Empire outshone the Roman Empire on every metric. It remains the greatest the world has ever seen and I don’t believe we shall see the like again – we brought freedom, enterprise and the rule of law.
Had the USA remained a colony it would have been spared the Civil War. All slaves would have been freed by our action throughout the Empire.
April 29, 2026
and tens of thousands of Americans were able to mortgage on British financial organisations which then crumbled when they couldn’t meet the payments.
April 29, 2026
Ore fool them! That’s the Market in action. You are punished for stupidity.
April 29, 2026
The American civil war was also fought over duties and taxes on the South.
Excess taxation has had huge impacts throughout history of starting conflicts.
Dominic Frisby has detailed many of these in his book Daylight Robbery which is an entertaining and illuminating read about the folly of trying to raise money from your demos.
April 29, 2026
Excess taxation and taxation without real representation (and having it wisely spent) is surely theft! We currently have vastly high taxation in the UK and it is appallingly spent too! The doom loop continues!
April 29, 2026
One other driver of the War of Independence was the 1772 ruling that slavery was not supported in law and this gave a boost to the anti-slavery movement in Britain. This was not well-received in the slave owning states in USA. At the start of the war Britain promised slaves would be freed if they fought for Britain. As such this is one of the few major wars I can think of where the “wrong” side won – slavery was finally abolished in Britain in 1834 but only in 1865 in USA.
April 29, 2026
250 years on and the UK Parliament still doesn’t understand its purpose and its duty. What we call our MPs are not there to preen personal egos and self esteem but to manage and serve the people, but they don’t ‘get it’.
Yesterday is Parliament it was shown black-mail and intimidation rules, the country and it people are just the pawns in some perverted ‘game’
22 months in and the destruction just keeps building. Now we have another 38 months of pure malicious vindictive destruction to endure before any one is allowed a voice.
In the next 38 months what seemingly passes for the Worlds last true Democracy the USA will have had 2 more General Election with its leadership seeking confirmation and validation of the directions it is taking that Country. “More General Elections!” and the ‘Left’ condemns them for allowing Democracy. The UK, the UK Parliament more correctly hates the Democracy as much as it hates the people that pay empowers and pays them. Just as 250 years ago the UK Parliament remains a sham, a deceit and insulting
April 29, 2026
Trump may have meant that the British aircraft carriers have mo anti missile systems and depend on guns to defend themselves. Also all of our support ships are in dock and only one vertical landing fighter- the F35 version with limited range can be used. It seems that the engine and propeller problems may be sorted and both are at sea. The Prince of Wales is going to the Arctic to scare the Russian fleet . Other Nato ships will hopefully defend her from hypersonic missiles and undersea drones. But the sailors will have excellent accommodation and catering.
The Queen Elizabeth is defending British waters from anyone who might blow up our pipelines and cables. But not rubber asylum boats. It’s a bit late to help with the Iranian bomb problem.
April 29, 2026
Unless and until they get a grip on the ballooning welfare bill there is going to be little scope for increased defence spending.
April 29, 2026
That is the elephant in the room.
April 29, 2026
In the USA, in Congress
King Charles and the Queen were superb, what an asset to the UK. In contrast to the incompetence and dishonesty of this labour government and its Parliament.
The upside is demonstrates the clear divide between the people and those that steal power from them. There is a clear divide between the British People and this authoritarian Parliament and its Government. If Parliament wasn’t fully on board supporting its chosen Government, that Government wouldn’t be there. As such it is the UK Parliament that ‘own’ the direction and destruction of the UK
April 29, 2026
“The UK objects to some of the President’s language.”? Lets not forget this is Trumps second term in office. During his first term he went the diplomacy talking route, endeavouring to encourage a more reciprocal arrange between the USA and others. It didn’t work, the others resorted to talking and talking until his term was up – the other don’t do democracy, don’t have regular elections. The USA was still charge 400% more for its exports to the EU than the USA charged them they same as when he arrived in office.
Clearly he learnt. has become more bombastic, more upsetting to those that need upsetting. He wont achieve all his aims before the USA has its next General Election, but he will have focused minds. The unfortunate part is the Socialist/Marxist State we live in with its Politburo rulers have defined the USA as an enemy, promote ‘hate’ and rather than looking for common ground, reciprocal arrangements, a mutual way of everyone advancing they have battened down their rule and retaliated at the suggestion of a level playing field. They are building defensive walls around them, walls of nonsensical tariffs and rules, the very thing the EU(EUSR) was built on, a State in isolation from the World. But that is of course the only way a Socialist/Marxist State survive
April 29, 2026
I listened to the King’s speech to the US Congress. On the whole it was good. He did mention the huge investment Starmer’s Gang is making in defence. Did he lie or do we understand that officially the King has no opinions of his own on such matters. He also quoted some words , which I can’t remember, of Starmer expressing how inseparable and close are the US and Britain. Well we know Starmer lies so we cannot take seriously anything he says – unless it is damaging to Britain, a sure indicator that he is being truthful.
Even more remarkable was the King’s expression of his commitment to Christianity and his belief in the validity, if that is the right word, of all faiths. Clearly a nonsense since Islam holds that Jesus was never crucified (Koran 4:157) thus rendering Islam wholly incompatible with Christianity.
April 29, 2026
Still crying after past glories when we should be reinventing ourselves to deal with the future – we have no special relationship – it’s a figment- there’s no such thing
April 29, 2026
“The UK does not have to join a military action against Iran that the US undertakes.” True, but nobody asked us to. The action taken by the Americans and Israelis had been years and years in the planning. When they went in, you could not get a cigarette paper between them. How on earth would we have fitted in with our lack of men and equipment? All we were asked to do was give permission for the shared bases to be used, bases the Americans pay for, and Starmer said no. We can speculate about which particular people he was appeasing – the Chinese, or the Islamists, or just the EU Mafia. Or all three. He and Davey have since lied about this over and over again, pretending that we were asked to join the initial action. We were not. It was reasonable to ask us later for our help with clearing the mines in the Strait of Hormuz, as we and other Europeans benefited from that more than the Americans.
April 29, 2026
PS by refusing use of the shared bases, Starmer compelled the pilots to fly 37 hours continuously. That is what has enraged Trump, and rightly so. It was disgusting behaviour, worthy of the man who persecuted our soldiers as a hobby.
April 29, 2026
+1 do we not have the rule of law and the EU working time directive? I cannot stand the evil two tier Kier Starmer nor the vile Sadiq Kahn. Will they visit Golders Green?
April 29, 2026
Spain, France and Italy refused to allow the USA to fly over their territory.
The USA allowed us to use their base on our Island, Ascension, during the Falklands War.
You can see why Trump is annoyed. He’s trying very hard to keep the U.K. onside. Turned a blind eye to some seriously stupid statements by Charles. Trump made a speech about the U.K./USA that made me proud of both our countries. Pity we can muster a British man to match him …. Yet …. I have great hopes for Rupert Lowe.
April 29, 2026
” No taxation without representation” is still a good slogan today. Who voted for the climate change taxes forced on us? Who voted for an increase in N.I. contributions? Who voted for frozen tax bands, an evil begun by the phoney conservatives and extended by this dire Labour Government? Who voted for the COVID shutdown and all the costs associated with it? Who voted for the UK debt to increase year on year, because MPs and the Government would not take tough action? Who voted for us to go back into the EU at a vast cost? Who voted to give the Chagos Islands away?
All the actions of a third-rate PM, Chancellor, Climate Minister and Government, with a bunch of fourth-rate MPs,
whose economic understanding is zero!
April 29, 2026
the King’s address to the Congress.well scripted and delivered.Referred to AUKUS to great acclamation.
Never once was Canada mentioned.He is the King of Canada.The country that is USA’s most vital
safety/security partner.Ottawa/Washington having a hissy fit over Greenland?Our Head of State was
advised not to make waves whilst his subjects north of the border would be justified in expecting him
to speak for them.He has let them down.
April 29, 2026
I think John might have mentioned that Parliament did what King George III bribed it to do. The bribes book was his bedtime reading, literally.
As for no taxation without representation, the accepted principle then was no representation without taxation. Non-taxpayers in England had no votes, but popular feeling was nonetheless disgusted by the indecent spectacle of men widely seen as violent and depraved slave owners demanding a liberty they shamelessly denied their own human chattels.
April 29, 2026
Who would believe that Charles, who feels such compassion for Islam which views all women as ‘animals shaped like humans so as not to frighten men’ would agree with your last sentence?
April 29, 2026
+1 it seems not!
April 29, 2026
The US is our most important single country trade partner, yes, but the EU is by far our most important trading bloc region located just next door and with no need to bridge the divide.
Reply EU biggest source of our imports, big deficit for us, all tariff free already and been declining as a proportion of our trade for tears.
April 29, 2026
Surely this is the time to admit it was wrong to try to give Diego Garcia away?
He can’t do that – he has to give Diego Garcia to Mauritius. That is the vital reason Mandelson was made Ambassador to Washington. If Starmer fails to hand over Diego Garcia and pay the £35bn, then…
(Those following the plot will fill in the dots for themselves.)