Starmer did well yesterday

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I mean, he was never going to magic a Trump personality transformation in the space of a couple of hours. But he walked the Trump tightrope well. I found the whole thing fascinating - particularly the contrived flattery. The mode of these US diplomatic visits now reflects the way you would visit a senile, elderly relative - any other leader would find it patronising, but it's all totally lost on Trump. The flourish if the state visit invite was hilarious. I was never a fan of Starmer particularly and thought he lacked charisma as a leader. But now I'm glad to have a leader who is about the tasks at hand, not simply his own ego. AIBU?

I agree with you @noblegiraffe ironically despite only caring about the 1%, Trump has aligned himself as "one for the working class american citizens" so I can see how he would have more in common with Sir Keir than Sunak.

I suspect he'll also be jealous of the fact that Starmer has the Sir title.

He is extremely intelligent and a senior lawyer. Yesterday was the ultimate test for him.

Oh I agree @Coolasfeck - but I think he is a loose canon and vindictive. He also has some very clever people behind him which sadly I don't think the British government has - they seem to be weak and floundering to me and making gaffe after gaffe. No gravitas.

I was so hopeful when Labour got in but have been so very disappointed by the lot of them with the possible exception of Wes Streeting who seems to be growing up and into the job.

"As much as I hate the idea of us taxpayers paying for a state visit, the reality is that it was an utter master stroke of King Charles. "

The invitation would have been at the request of the PM/government as part of their Trump Strategy. They would have approached KC and asked him to do this. This is when the Royal Family really earn their keep. QE2 visiting Ireland was an integral part of the Good Friday Agreement.

Yes, KS did well. He obviously prepped thoroughly and had a good team around him.

Hes never going to be the most charismatic, but I am happy to have someone in charge who is thoughtful and considered.

I know that. But having the personal handwritten letter ready to go was superb.

I personally support the royal family, but I understand why people think we shouldn't have one in this day and age. But ultimately, having KC on tap, and William and Catherine in line is exactly what diplomacy needs when there's such a conflict of politics. This is where the Royals earn their money in my opinion - that soft schmoozing that only they can do.

I think this is going to be Trump’s weak spot. He seems to have an almost childlike wonder of royalty and the British aristocracy - probably due to its mystique and the fact it isn’t something that can be readily bought. They need to take him in, make him feel special and included, and then make their case. When KS gave him the letter he seemed genuinely surprised and a bit awe struck by it, unless he was acting (and I don’t think he does that).

As much as I like to criticise Starmer, I do agree with you on this one OP. It was too cringey to watch all the way through though.

I normally get accused of being a Russian or Tory bot on threads about Labour, but I might not this time!

Charles will be the death of the monarchy.

I'm not a huge labour or starter fan, but admit he held himself and represented the UK well yesterday. Well done KS.

USA distancing itself from EU, were not part of EU and was concerned starmer might look to the EU, but pleased he hopefully brokered a deal with the U.S.

I agree. KC is past his time. Wills and Kate would be good, but Charles and camilla... not.

They're pretty much the same age - C&C and Trump - so they'll get along just fine. I don't think we should inflict Trump on Katherine.

I just can't understand why so many people voted for Trump.

Donald Trump 'threatened to kill rape accuser if she reported him' | The Independent | The Independent

Love her or loathe her, I would pay anything to have seen Margaret Thatcher with Trump.

I also suspect that Starmer is a good listener. It was a nature of his job for many years, his talking role was usually planned and prepared. Yes, he goes on rambling about his toolmaker dad and so on but listening looks easy for him. A lot of professional politicians can only do a bit of listening, they are in a hurry to talk and consequently to interrupt. I don’t think Trump likes being interrupted 🙂.

Yes why not. It'll cost us billions, they get paid.

Trump of course is a yes on that

Yes - I cannot imagine her being two faced and hypocritical as Starmer and Lammy are. It just seems like they will throw out their beliefs if they won't personally benefit.

She had a spine and standards whether you agreed with them or not. Where are Tony Benn and Dennis Skinner when you need them? Proper politicians. I suspect she would have commanded a lot more respect - Trump even shut Starmer up in the press conference by saying 'That's enough' when he was waffling on. So rude and disrespectful but Starmer deserved it.

S and L were just so snivelling and lacking any dignity. I am embarrassed they represent our country tbh. Bloody Peter Mandelson too. Crooks and liars the lot of them.

@LifeExperience isn't far off but that's the point of it

Make the person feel they've won with flattery and do what you want.

She had a spine and standards whether you agreed with them or not.

Which is more brave ? Show off your bertie big bollocks "spine" when the stormtroopers kick the door in and get you and your family killed (probably very slowly). Or keep your big gob shut as they ransack your house and then leave for the next victim while you and your family are still alive to fight another day ?

When the US has the clout to tell the US what to do, it can afford the luxury of a spine. Until then, guarded diplomacy to keep as many people safe as possible seems a good approach.

Starmers sucking up to Trump used up about 1/1,000,000 of the puckering that Farage and the RussoReformers are applying to Putins arse right now.

This idea of yours that being diplomatic is hypocritical is very naïve.

I don't understand what you are saying @SerendipityJane do you think we are in danger of being attacked by the US?

The US can tell the US what to do for sure - I don't know what you mean by that.

I am not talking about war and stormtroopers (really?) - just personal integrity, dignity, authority and presence of the politicians who represent us and those two jokers have none. So they aren't going to get any respect from Trump and Vance. Nobody is going to take them seriously when they lie openly and blatantly - that is not diplomacy. Diplomacy needs clever people who can recognise sub text and currents and who are articulate without reading from a script - Starmer is completely tone deaf to those.

@RachelNoire what's wrong with KC?

I think @cardibach believing you can spout crap like a silly student and then be still be able and suitable to be PM or Foreign Secretary is what is naive in this day and age when it follows you for ever.

If their clearly strongly held beliefs conflict with their ability to do the job they should not have accepted the job and should resign and let someone who doesn't have that embarrassing baggage represent the country.

Don’t be silly. You’re basically saying nobody who presents a robust opposition can ever be in power. Nobidy has said they like Trump, or that he’s right. It’s just that they, unlike you it seems, are grown up enough to engage in the appropriate diplomacy. What you are suggesting means no politician could ever say anything about anyone else or have diplomatic relations with a country they disagreed with. Absolutely nonsense - and impractical too.

Starmer was acting like jimmy saville sitting in his big blue chair opening the little drawer “ now then. What might we have here, a very very special invitation for our trump boy from a very important king “ like he was talking to a four year old.