Thread 41 Starmer : "Alban Arthan" the returning of the light

[DuncinToffee]

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Welcome to 2026 for political discussion, general chat and taxes in kind.

Starmer very effectively delivering Trump a shit sandwich.

Nobody’s going to step in, at least not at this point. I’m a pragmatist and I said at the time he should have been given his meaningless bauble. Trump is easily placated with stuff that flatters his ego. Give him all the toys so he’s distracted from doing real damage.

This is different, he has a real bee in his bonnet over Greenland, placating him wont work... he is digging in.

Yes i do think someone will pull him back from this, may even be the Supreme Court, due to rule on tariffs next week, if not earlier.

I didn't mean he would be replaced.

The analogy that springs to my mind is an elderly parent - Trump is elderly - who refuses to give up driving despite being dangerous on the road.

Placating him will always work. He’s a toddler having a tantrum who needs to be distracted with another toy.

The worrying thing about that analogy is POTUS has got Vance and the likes of Miller in the car with him, ages 40 ish...no doubt egging him on and certainly not acting as sensible adults or responsible drivers.

Jenrick told Times Radio that the potential defector is a former MP.

My money is on Hoey. I know she is no longer Labour, but was a well known Labour figure in her time.

It's clear that the GOP has no safeguarding in place.

Any good leader of a foreign Government knows that.

Former remainer teaming up with former Brexiteer.

I got it from a Scientists for EU's post on FB. They are usually quite reliable, but as with any and everything on the internet, you are always advised to satisfy yourself.

They in turn got it from an FB page "TechTimes".

I can't see any more elsewhere. Which doesn't make it untrue.

Here is a story that is reported elsewhere. The (mysteriously available 5 years ahead of schedule 🤔) Dragonfire has been confirmed in multiple sources. As far as we know the US doesn't have anything like it.

I have just posted elsewhere that I am seriously feeling a little skittish about having armed US troops in the UK.

I don't think there is any point in sugar coating things for the British public, or the US. Starmer needs to remind the US that these ICE agents in waiting (for all we know) are here by the invitation of the UK and that could be withdrawn any time.

Maybe we could have a referendum on it ? "Yanks Out" is a good slogan.

At the very least demonstrations outside US bases. Ideally in concert across Europe.

I'm done with trying to be sensible. It's just appeasing again.

@SerendipityJane

"I got it from a Scientists for EU's* post on FB. They are usually quite reliable, but as with any and everything on the internet, you are always advised to satisfy yourself.
They in turn got it from an FB page "TechTimes".
I can't see any more elsewhere. Which doesn't make it untrue."

That's as maybe but the story simply makes absolutely no,,nil, nul, nada sense in terms of the current requipping of the Danish Air Force (having just bought F-35 they are not about to equip again), and the fact that Chinese defence tech is regarded as iffy as hell for all sorts of reasons...

If the story had been the Danes buying Rafale or Gripen it might be more credible, but fast jets from China...just no.

Now as for the separate issue of US bases this side of the pond, I am somewhat in agreement. That's potentially an issue to have real concerns about if US >UK/EU relations continue to deteriorate.

People should do their own research. I'm not offended 😀. I consider threads like this a safe space, where most people understand a post may not indicate any agreement or disagreement with the contents. It's all "FYI", really.

It's fair to say not all threads on MN are so curated (which I have been told to be aware of by MNHQ - I try my best😎)

I would hope the UK is examining and preparing for whatever may unfold regarding the US. However that will be using precious resources that should be devoted to making the UK better. In that respect the whole Trump business is like a vampire - bleeding us of energy.

I had a quick look and found this about numbers of US military personnel in Europe, in case anyone is interested:

Not all in the UK will be NATO. They can be asked to leave for a start.

I would prefer personal sanctions or measures against Trump, Vance and his supporters. No golf course visit, no holidays in the Cotswolds and having to fly on scheduled airlines.

I'd also postpone any state visits, using the grounds that these would involve the King in politics.

It was interesting that Starmer dodged two questions about the proposed King’s visit to the US. I wonder if he’s using it as a bargaining chip.

Respectfully I disagree. These acts are being carried out under the aegis of POTUS. Unless and until the US political system addresses that, then it's POTUS - not Trump - that is in the frame.

This is all being done in the name of the American people. It's up to them to deal with it.

I wonder if Charles has suggested he's not up for it ?

Edward VIII casts a very long shadow. The late Queen mum detested him, and he was a Nazi sympathiser. Maybe Charles has said "The British Royal family has had enough of being photographed with dictators ...."

It does raise the interesting question about how much agency the Monarch has in these cases. I mean if he said "Not going" what then ?

Inconceivable the King could visit the USA if we were in a full blown trade war with USA..... i mean what could he say?

But it looks like Starmer is still going for his "Don't pick a side" strategy.

Noticeably far less confrontational than EU.

One problem the UK has with asking US armed forces ersonnel and personnel of other agencies to leave is that in some areas of defence and related areas the UK is very much joined at the hip with the States, so there would be consequences for the UK.

The PM hinted at such in his speech this morning.

I'm not saying that's a reason not to insist on a drawdown of US Forces in the UK in the event that circumstances make that look like a prudent course of action.

Chucking US forces out of Europe/UK would have dire consequences for Ukraine...

Something i didn't consider earlier.

Then they need to look at ways to decouple urgently. The problem is the argument gets circular

• the UK is too dependent on the US to decouple from them
• the US wouldn't help the UK and might actually seek to hurt them so they can't be depended on
• but we do depend on them

Round and round. I fully understand it's a horrible situation to be in, but I can't see the point of pretending it isn't the case. If you are tied to a car that's slowly falling of a cliff pretending it is maybe going to be OK because the alternative to it not being OK is to scary is pointless.
Well, I can kind of see the point of pretending in public. So long as they are actually cutting the rope in private

He wants to be careful the Great British Public sees it the same way. Bearing in mind the number of alleged "Starmer" people who just blame everything on him as a matter of course.

Isn't Brexit great.........