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

[DuncinToffee]

Previous thread

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

Well this explains the silence from Farage and Tice (who were both very active earlier in the week)

Reform UK voters' attitudes to Ukraine differ significantly from other voters

Want Ukraine to win + care that it does
Lab/Con/LD: 77-86%
Reform: 47%

Would be negative about a peace deal that left Russia in control of conquered territory
Lab/Con/LD: 64-71%
Reform: 33%

bsky.app/profile/yougov.co.uk/post/3lilznwvn3c2s

Wait.
So asylum seekers (especially ‘fighting age males’) in boats are ‘an invasion’ and should be stopped.
But Putin literally marching into someone else’s country and claiming it for himself is totally fine?
Make it make sense.

Kim Darroch interview on Radio 4 (with subtitles)

https://bsky.app/profile/bestforbritain.bsky.social/post/3lim7cpic622q

The Russian economy is in a poor poor shape, and there are questions as whether they can sustain this war"

Former U.S. ambassador and Best for Britain board member Kim Darroch with valuable insight into Trump, Ukraine and Russia this morning. 🧵

Nope. You simply can't.

Which was why holding Russian assets in the EU/London was thought to be a bargaining chip for peace negotiations.

Interesting to see that Tim Montgomerie has criticised Farage/Reform for not speaking out against Trump. He calls for them to end their silence urgently.

Bit surprised that Montgomerie is surprised by this.

I saw that under the caption Leopards/face latest:

Haha. Yes. If Montgomerie had paid attention over the last decade or more none of this would be surprising.

There's a rumour that Nigel Farage is keeping his head down because he's off to a Trump cheerleading conference over the weekend.

I’m afraid I’m being proved right- Farage is far more interested in Trump's success than British security. He is a bootlicker and a plastic patriot.

bsky.app/profile/eddavey.libdems.org.uk/post/3lim7vssism2f

You'll only send yourself crazy. I wouldn't even try- trust me, I've been there.

I agree with one of tge posters there who said that Ed Davey would be a great leader of the opposition. For all his stunts, he is astute enough to ask important questions but give support where support is due without treating his role like a 6th form debate.

I'm not sure you can

Farage has handed over Reform's ownership to its members

By doing so, Farage is meeting Musk’s preconditions for bankrolling Reform UK.

Let’s hope the law disallowing foreign donations is passed sharpish.

No longer Reform plc, then? Claiming to be a non profit.
https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/nigel-farage-gives-up-control-reform-uk-make-party-more-democratic-2025-02-20/

Apparently Cleverly has announced that defence spending should be 3% of GDP. It makes you wonder why they didn’t increase it to that level in the 14 years they were in power if they think that’s the appropriate level.

https://www.highnorthnews.com/en/norway-and-uk-strengthens-defense-cooperation-new-era

Norway and the UK are coming together to create a new and extensive agreement to strengthen defense and security cooperation between the two countries.

The United States is objecting to a proposed G7 statement that describes Russia as the aggressor in the Ukraine war, according to western officials.
The US envoys are opposed to the phrase “Russian aggression” in a statement on the third anniversary of Russia’s all-out invasion, the officials said, according to the Financial Times. The expression has been used by G7 leaders since Vladimir Putin ordered tanks into Ukraine in 2022.

from the Times.

https://www.politics.co.uk/politicslunch/2025/02/20/from-starmer-to-farage-what-responses-to-trumps-attack-on-zelenskyy-reveal/

From Starmer to Farage: what responses to Trump’s attack on Zelenskyy reveal

Farage said that Trump shouldn't be taken literally (trying the same line to the one Johnson tried), Zelensky is not a dictator, that there was bad blood between Ukraine and Trump because Ukraine didnt do as Trump as instructed regarding Biden and that there should be a timeline for elections.

Which reads to me as Trump is a petty minded liar who has ignored the fact that Zelensky has already said elections will be held as soon as the war is over.

Ukraine can't hold elections under martial law

And Russia hasn’t had a proper election in 25 years, but that’s ok apparently.
I despair.

And the US would never have another if Trump and Musk had their way.

That's Farage repeating the Kremlin line about elections.

The Kremlin is desperate for early elections in Ukraine before any peace agreement is signed - all the better to bring in their own stooge.

Farage is doing the Kremlin's dirty work.

Thought a big hero for Farage was Churchill- who also didn't hold elections in wartime 🤔
Hopefully, as the U.K. seems generally in favour of supporting Ukraine then Reform will lose some supporters with their approach - at least he's telling us what he is and I just hope folk listen!
I can't credit the approach taken by Trump (it's Ukraine's fault) - my bar is the lowest possible yet he limbos under it every single day.
I did read yesterday that Putin isn't meeting in person to discuss fully until Trump has got Europe etc on side - he apparently said Trump has to move fast too. So perhaps this will go the way of Mexico, Canada, Gaza Riviera and he'll move on. I sadly don't know if he has forgotten these 3 tbh, or will forget Ukraine, but hoping he's all mouth no action in foreign affairs at least - though he obviously will take credit for any good outcome anywhere.