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Original poster

Media pushing Starmer to war

137 replies

Indigosky37 · 03/03/2026 05:32

Daily mails headline is “Keir Starmer accused of hand wringing and pearl clutching” and Kemi Badenoch saying he’s “scared”. Then a comment section full of “he’s a coward” “ he’s a chicken” “incompetent idiot” “an embarrassment”.

So are the media pushing Kier Starmer to take us to war then? Is that what they want, because if he did the headlines would be about how we don’t want a war. The man can’t win. But pushing for war and making out Kier to be weak for not doing it is worrying.

OP posts:
StopWindingBobStopWinding · 03/03/2026 08:56

Velentia · 03/03/2026 08:48

After being nagged by Trump and Hegseth he changed and gave permission to use Akrotiri and Fairford. That is not resolute. Not heard anything about Israel from him.

It is pragmatic. Treading a fine line when the incumbent in the White House is volatile and not bothered about the rule of law, but maintaining visible support for a Western ally. I can’t see what else could be done to balance international relations at a time like this.

MissyB1 · 03/03/2026 08:55

Velentia · 03/03/2026 08:48

After being nagged by Trump and Hegseth he changed and gave permission to use Akrotiri and Fairford. That is not resolute. Not heard anything about Israel from him.

Yes I disagree with him giving permission for the US to use the airbases. You won’t hear a peep out of him about Israel that’s for certain! But at least he admitted that regime change likely wont work, and we should learn from the past.
However I would like to know more about exactly what support we are giving US and Israel in terms of intelligence etc…

Velentia · 03/03/2026 08:48

After being nagged by Trump and Hegseth he changed and gave permission to use Akrotiri and Fairford. That is not resolute. Not heard anything about Israel from him.

PandoraSocks · 03/03/2026 08:46

Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 08:42

I'd much rather we spent money on our schools than on missiles to blow up Iranian schools.

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Dragonflytamer, it is not often that I agree with you but in this case I do and with your previous post.

StopWindingBobStopWinding · 03/03/2026 08:43

Velentia · 03/03/2026 08:32

As PM Starmer should have explained to us what he was doing and why. To not support Trump is a major decision in itself. Israel being the leader of this attack is another factor that links in with our home politics. Another reason for explanation.
Will we be sending information that we have harvested from intelligence sources including GCHQ.
By not addressing the nation and putting his governments opinion to us in a concise way he is looking like a weather vane, a ditherer. This is a time to be resolute.

He put out a statement directly to the public which appeared on my social media on Sunday, and went before Parliament for over two hours yesterday. Did you want him to come round and explain it to you in your kitchen over coffee?

GreyfriarsJobbies · 03/03/2026 08:43

Velentia · 03/03/2026 08:32

As PM Starmer should have explained to us what he was doing and why. To not support Trump is a major decision in itself. Israel being the leader of this attack is another factor that links in with our home politics. Another reason for explanation.
Will we be sending information that we have harvested from intelligence sources including GCHQ.
By not addressing the nation and putting his governments opinion to us in a concise way he is looking like a weather vane, a ditherer. This is a time to be resolute.

But...he did exactly this on the 1st. And I have no doubt he'll do it again as the situation evolves. Just because you weren't spoon-fed it on your TikTok feed doesn't mean it didn't happen.

Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 08:42

Passingthrough123 · 03/03/2026 08:38

Exactly. This thread would be full of 'He's just like Blair' comments and calling him a war mongerer instead.

Edited to add: that was meant to be a reply to a PP but you clearly share the same sentiment anyway!

Edited
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I'd much rather we spent money on our schools than on missiles to blow up Iranian schools.

Passingthrough123 · 03/03/2026 08:40

Velentia · 03/03/2026 08:32

As PM Starmer should have explained to us what he was doing and why. To not support Trump is a major decision in itself. Israel being the leader of this attack is another factor that links in with our home politics. Another reason for explanation.
Will we be sending information that we have harvested from intelligence sources including GCHQ.
By not addressing the nation and putting his governments opinion to us in a concise way he is looking like a weather vane, a ditherer. This is a time to be resolute.

He gave a statement to Parliament yesterday!

Passingthrough123 · 03/03/2026 08:38

Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 08:37

I'm with Starmer on this (unusually), the last thing the UK should be doing is getting involved with Netanyahu's illegal war mongering.

Exactly. This thread would be full of 'He's just like Blair' comments and calling him a war mongerer instead.

Edited to add: that was meant to be a reply to a PP but you clearly share the same sentiment anyway!

kirinm · 03/03/2026 08:37

Velentia · 03/03/2026 08:32

As PM Starmer should have explained to us what he was doing and why. To not support Trump is a major decision in itself. Israel being the leader of this attack is another factor that links in with our home politics. Another reason for explanation.
Will we be sending information that we have harvested from intelligence sources including GCHQ.
By not addressing the nation and putting his governments opinion to us in a concise way he is looking like a weather vane, a ditherer. This is a time to be resolute.

He has explained why. Which bit didn’t you hear?

Dragonflytamer · 03/03/2026 08:37

I'm with Starmer on this (unusually), the last thing the UK should be doing is getting involved with Netanyahu's illegal war mongering.

Angelic999 · 03/03/2026 08:35

BeAvidHiker · 03/03/2026 07:29

Media doesn’t need to push Starmer to do anything. The guy has done about 78,000 u turns in less than two years already. He’s about as strong as a wet paper bag. He’ll give way even if you just look at him with a strong glare. What a pathetic excuse for a leader we have.

Edited

And if he followed Trump from day one everyone would be saying he's Trumps lapdog. The guy can't win.

He's right not to jump in to this conflict head first.

PoachedSmoke · 03/03/2026 08:34

I wouldn't worry OP. The man is so useless even if he does make a decision he'll change his mind the following day 😂

Velentia · 03/03/2026 08:32

As PM Starmer should have explained to us what he was doing and why. To not support Trump is a major decision in itself. Israel being the leader of this attack is another factor that links in with our home politics. Another reason for explanation.
Will we be sending information that we have harvested from intelligence sources including GCHQ.
By not addressing the nation and putting his governments opinion to us in a concise way he is looking like a weather vane, a ditherer. This is a time to be resolute.

PandoraSocks · 03/03/2026 08:28

EasternStandard · 03/03/2026 08:24

Yeh it’s not the media.

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Do you think Starmer's current stance is the right approach?

EasternStandard · 03/03/2026 08:24

BeAvidHiker · 03/03/2026 07:29

Media doesn’t need to push Starmer to do anything. The guy has done about 78,000 u turns in less than two years already. He’s about as strong as a wet paper bag. He’ll give way even if you just look at him with a strong glare. What a pathetic excuse for a leader we have.

Edited

Yeh it’s not the media.

IsawwhatIsaw · 03/03/2026 08:22

Further back in the 1960s Harold Wilson supported the US publicly, but refused to send troops to support them in Vietnam.
he was correct as is Starmer.

skippy67 · 03/03/2026 08:19

Passingthrough123 · 03/03/2026 08:17

Imagine if Farage was PM. He'd be telling Trump to rest his troops and fire power and let ours do it for him. He's so far up Trump's arse it is frightening.

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Yep. But at least he's not a lawyer 🙄

Fundays12 · 03/03/2026 08:18

BelleEpoque27 · 03/03/2026 06:34

More incompetent than Liz Truss? Or Boris Johnson? Nah.

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Liz Truss at least resigned quickly.Boris was pretty useless to.

Passingthrough123 · 03/03/2026 08:17

skippy67 · 03/03/2026 08:15

Who would you rather have as PM?

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Imagine if Farage was PM. He'd be telling Trump to rest his troops and fire power and let ours do it for him. He's so far up Trump's arse it is frightening.

skippy67 · 03/03/2026 08:15

BeAvidHiker · 03/03/2026 07:29

Media doesn’t need to push Starmer to do anything. The guy has done about 78,000 u turns in less than two years already. He’s about as strong as a wet paper bag. He’ll give way even if you just look at him with a strong glare. What a pathetic excuse for a leader we have.

Edited

Who would you rather have as PM?

Passingthrough123 · 03/03/2026 08:14

Lifesd · 03/03/2026 08:08

Allowing the US to use our military bases in a far cry from boots on the ground OP. Supporting one of our longest standing allies against a mutual enemy who would very much like to see our downfall (and is something the Iranians have been begging for) is something I’m in favour of myself. But nevermind if Russia attacks us I’m sure there will be plenty other allies to have our back.

Edited
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But Trump truly doesn't give a shit about allies – he wants to ruin NATO for his own self-serving ends. He's furious NATO is stopping him from seizing Greenland.

SundayBells · 03/03/2026 08:12

Starmer doesn't go to war - Daily Mail headline = COWARD.

Starmer does go to war - Daily Mail headline = ANOTHER LABOUR LEADER PLUNGES COUNTRY INTO FOREIGN WAR. BRITISH SOLDIERS KILLED WHILST UK HOTELS FILLED WITH THE REAL INVASION THREATENING OUR NATION.

Overtheatlantic · 03/03/2026 08:11

The daily mail is NOT the media. Get your information from reputable sources. The guardian, the Financial Times, the bbc, anywhere but the dm.

Lifesd · 03/03/2026 08:08

Indigosky37 · 03/03/2026 07:47

Okay so you believe the war is right and justified and your happy to send UK troops?

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Allowing the US to use our military bases in a far cry from boots on the ground OP. Supporting one of our longest standing allies against a mutual enemy who would very much like to see our downfall (and is something the Iranians have been begging for) is something I’m in favour of myself. But nevermind if Russia attacks us I’m sure there will be plenty other allies to have our back.

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