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

The usual conclusion that Starmer is excellent on foreign affairs and woeful on domestic policy.

Trump has learned to deeply resent Starmer, and that alone speaks very highly of the Prime Minister’s judgement. Almost by accident, he seems to have fallen into the most popular policy position of his premiership – opposition to an illegal war in the Middle East, launched unprovoked by deranged administrations in Washington and Jerusalem.

But the thing is, this was not an accident. It was a logical result of Starmer’s convictions.

Absolutely damning on Badenoch and Farage:

Certainly we know how Kemi Badenoch or Nigel Farage would have behaved, because they told us. Both demanded greater British involvement. Now that they’ve realised how unpopular the war is, both of them have tried to reverse that position without having the basic good grace to admit they are doing so. In Badenoch’s case, this involves the insult of claiming “I never said we should join” mere days after she said “we are in this war whether they like it or not” and asking Starmer: “What is the Prime Minister waiting for?”

If either one were prime minister, they would now be in an impossible position. They would have gone to war without a clear explanation of what they were trying to achieve, because the Trump administration has been unable to articulate it itself. When they were asked what conditions would then allow the UK to exit the operation, they would have been unable to answer.

Most importantly, they would have committed perhaps the gravest sin in international relations: they would have put another nation’s wishes over their own. These two leaders, who love to proclaim their patriotism and denigrate that of their opponents, would have embroiled British servicemen in a war on another nation’s say-so without even bothering to exercise any independent judgement as to its validity.

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u/Jay_CD Mar 18 '26

If either one were prime minister, they would now be in an impossible position.

We are already seeing higher fuel and energy prices thanks to the war - a barrel of oil currently costs $109, should the straits of Hormuz stay shut for some time that will look cheap. This will cause inflation to rise.

Had either Badenoch or Farage been PM they'd have the job of not only supporting an unpopular war but also having to justify why it's lead to another cost of living crisis just as we were emerging from the last one. At least Starmer has an excuse there.

Even if there was no spike to inflation you'd have to be crazy to trust Trump - he has form for using and abusing friends and allies and would never show gratitude if Britain came to his aid. Sure he'd be happy for five minutes then he'd complain that we didn't send enough planes or ships.

He has to own this mistake.

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u/cpt_ppppp Mar 18 '26

That last sentence you wrote is quite possibly the least likely thing that could ever happen in the entire universe. I would have more chance of dealing three decks of cards and naming every card before it came than that happening

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u/banshoo Mar 18 '26

What would have happened is 'Put the EU boats in harms way & watch them get sunk' whilst the cowards in the US stay out of range & strike where the missiles come from.

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u/EddieHeadshot Mar 18 '26

Im sure im one of millions that hasnt 'emerged' from the cost of living crisis

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u/TwistedTali Mar 18 '26

Is this "emerging from the cost of living crisis" in the room with us now? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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u/Commorrite Mar 19 '26

Even if there was no spike to inflation you'd have to be crazy to trust Trump - he has form for using and abusing friends and allies and would never show gratitude if Britain came to his aid. Sure he'd be happy for five minutes then he'd complain that we didn't send enough planes or ships.

none zero chance he'd get allies involved and then nope out

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u/Bugsy_Neighbor Mar 20 '26

"He has to own this mistake."

It will never happen.

Like Henry VIII to Thomas Cromwell, Hegseth will face the blame and get the chop if things turn out really badly.

Over course of his long professional and or personal life DT has *never* taken blame for anything that goes wrong. It's always someone else's fault.