Thread 18 Starmer: All sides of the House agree apart from the Trump bootlickers

[DuncinToffee]

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https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5264338-thread-17-starmer-treading-softly?page=40&reply=142243865

I hope that there is strong sense of realism in London about European security.

The only thing Trump has a point about is the contributions to NATO. He is not even the first US president to observe it.

And he was actually right to tell Merkel not to be so dependent on the Russians and that it was a mistake. Well he was right on that too. She made a huge mistake. If you look at the AfD vote it is dominantly East German. It is pro Russia.

The unspeakable in the EU is deciding when a MS is actually a security threat. What does it do? What does it do when there starts to be pro Russian parties all over MS?

What does Britain do? It is a grim thought.

What does Britain do?

What it has always done (whether it likes it or not). Use the fact that as an island we are the natural refuge for a Europe being pressed from the East. As we once were for a Europe being pressed from the West.

You know, for a country that isn't "in Europe" Britain has been quite deeply woven into the fabric of .... Europe ... for centuries (if not millennia).

Hug between Starmer and Zelenskyy accompanied by

“You are welcome here and we stand with you.”

It's all gone a bit Lord of the Rings, hasn't it ?

Lovely footage here

https://bsky.app/profile/peterstefanovic.bsky.social/post/3ljdhmvjblc2p

Go on Charles, give him an honorary knighthood.

It is extremely weird.

But I suppose what we should watch for is this. A Donald Trump without JD Vance.

Vance does not like us or other Europeans. He is the worm in the apple

I loved how with basic good manners, Stamer let him lead into no10. They both looked so much more relaxed and comfortable than when they were with Trump.

God that journalist shouting the same thing over and over was really annoying!

I have sound turned off so missed that, just read it in the comments

Wasn’t he just?

Worth bearing in mind he is also the default president when if anything were to befall Trump.

If I had megalomaniac ambitions and if I thought I was clever, then becoming a lapdog VP and letting the big man do all the hard work of establishing a dictatorship before quietly "slipping in*" would be one strategy.

*And I ain't talking about DMs

@SerendipityJane agree he is bad news for Europeans. He is presenting us a cost base to Trump.

In that sense playing up to Trump's connections in Scotland via Royal Family was smart. Trump is also an emotional guy who likes this kind of indulgence.

Vance clearly just thinks we are dirt. You can see it. And indeed hear it.

Been a bit indisposed last few days so haven’t been totally aware of what’s been happening, my god such disgraceful behaviour yesterday at the White House so glad that today was much better for president Zelensykk & good manners/respect has been restored

God that journalist shouting the same thing over and over was really annoying!

I'm sure Starmer said "you don't have to answer that" if my lip reading is any use at all 😂

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has signed a £2.26 billion loan agreement with Ukraine to strengthen its defence capabilities, to be repaid using profits from frozen Russian assets

Brilliant. There were a lot of people rushing to criticise Starmer last night when his support statement seemed to come slowly. Well, actions speak louder than words.

That's great news. Well done RR

I see LK is interviewing Starmer, tomorrow. Her introduction doesn't sound entirely hostile.

That announcement is in the same feed as this, which was a bit of "WTF Auntie beeb?" moment when I read it.

The BBC is really simple stuff these days. They lost a lot of good people in the last decade. I do Radio 4 still

“Eat humble pie”?
I despair of the BBC.
I don’t know why I watch LK and QT , it really is only to see what the guests say as both presenters are abysmal.
Someone I know posted a pic on social media of the Statue of Liberty walking away with a suitcase in each hand .
It was strangely moving.

I hope LK remembers that this is a very very serious time.

She's trying to get Keir Starmer to say that he doesn't trust Trump

And how helpful would that be? FFS, Laura.

I can't bear to watch her.