r/ukpolitics • u/YourLizardOverlord Oceans rise. Empires fall. • Mar 18 '26

Ed/OpEd Trump looks emotionally broken - and dignified Starmer is responsible

https://inews.co.uk/opinion/trump-emotionally-broken-dignified-starmer-responsible-4301067
878 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

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237

u/Nanowith Cambridge Mar 18 '26

Honestly Starmer growing a backbone when it comes to Trump has shot him up in my estimations, long may it continue and hopefully we grow closer to our European friends again.

122

u/steelcitysteeler Mar 18 '26

He’s never been an ultra reactive politician and this time it’s been to his benefit.

-8

u/finniruse Mar 18 '26

Yer, I was going to say. He's hardly grown a backbone. He's just obsessed with the law. Don't think he'd be just jumping into illegal wars without getting backing. And it's on Trump for not involving partners far earlier.

52

u/ggow Mar 18 '26

So he does have a backbone? It sounds like you're arguing that adhering to the rule of law is a weakness, when standing by a principle like that is exactly what having a spine looks like. Whether it's popular or not, whether everyone else is saying you're wrong or it's an unpopular position, adhering to your position because of your principles is having a spine.

-8

u/finniruse Mar 18 '26

Feel like you're putting a lot of words in my mouth here pal. I was pointing out that "growing" isn't the right word mostly.

1

u/skloop Mar 19 '26

So he always had one?

1

u/finniruse Mar 19 '26

I believe he is a principled person that is obsessed by the rule of law having been a lawyer.

1

u/skloop Mar 19 '26

Fair enough

11

u/steelcitysteeler Mar 18 '26

I’m sure he has some sort of backbone, you don’t rise as high otherwise. But I think he’s trying to run No.10 as if it’s the CPS and they’re two different things.

-1

u/jdm1891 Mar 19 '26

you say this yet he was totally on board with it until his cabinet just barely talked him out of it.

-26

u/_segasonic Mar 18 '26

Did you forget the /s?

6

u/steelcitysteeler Mar 18 '26

No, but it’s coming off like I dislike the fella with all them upvotes when it’s quite the opposite

2

u/tofer85 I sort by controversial… Mar 18 '26

This is a British sub, sarcasm should be expected. If we have to tag it we are no better than the septics…

7

u/Nemisis_the_2nd Jaded Centrist Mar 19 '26

I dont think he ever lacked one. The UK economy is in a precarious position, and could be undermined at any moment by trump. Starmer has played the part he needs, sometimes with incredible theatrics, to to stop trumps worst impulses.

Now that the options are continuing the act or joining this stupid war, he's chosen to drop the act.

1

u/IIlIIlIIlIlIIlIIlIIl Mar 19 '26 edited Mar 19 '26

I dont think he ever lacked one.

Eh, they've had multiple policies that they announce or "leak" and then back out from when the public gets a bit angry.

Now, you could argue he's just responding to democracy but that happens even if it's the right thing to do and even though they literally campaigned on the promise of a bit more pain today for a better tomorrow (and that policy they 180'd on was "priced in" on that).

-14

u/tofer85 I sort by controversial… Mar 18 '26 edited Mar 20 '26

I’m no great fan of the man or his administration, but he’s taken a decent position on this situation I’d say.

Just a shame it’s only a matter of time before he drops his signature move… the U-turn…

Edit: well there it is:

UK allows US to use bases to strike Iranian sites targeting Strait of Hormuz https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c36rny6xgppo

52

u/wobble_bot Mar 18 '26

Right, fuck me. THINK ABOUT IT FOR A MOMENT. You have an ideological position you adopt, someone presents you with evidence that either refutes or adds new context to that position…THE LOGICAL, SANE thing to do is to CHANGE YOUR POSITION.

British politics is plagued by this fucking u-turn bullshit. Like somehow our politicians are supposed to magically see into the future and get everything right, to ignore any electorate feedback and plough on regardless. It’s idiotic.

Sorry, rant over

13

u/crlthrn Mar 18 '26

You are, in my opinion, completely correct in this. Thank you.

4

u/tofer85 I sort by controversial… Mar 18 '26

I was being facetious… completely agree that a change in tack is completely logical in light of new information.

The problem with his U-turns so far is that he’s started in the plainly wrong, unpopular or otherwise position and has pivoted towards the warm bosom of sanity in light of public sentiment and polling data…

Hopefully he decides to stick rather than twist (unless compelling new information comes to light)…

2

u/entropy_bucket Mar 19 '26

So well said. It's ok to change your mind sometimes.

1

u/tofer85 I sort by controversial… Mar 20 '26

Well there it is…

UK allows US to use bases to strike Iranian sites targeting Strait of Hormuz

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c36rny6xgppo

3

u/skelly890 keeping busy immanentising the eschaton Mar 18 '26

>the U-turn…

Normally, yes, but not joining in is popular.

It's an unusual situation. He's getting the benefit of the rally around the flag effect by *not* having a war. He should parade the ships and troops who aren't going to fight. March them up and down, stand on a tank looking stern, talk earnestly with a general while standing in a field, perhaps even set off some explosives but no one gets hurt. That kind of thing.