Breaking News

[Wales-Bales]

.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: Breaking News

[Rjk]

Re: Breaking News

tricky one to navigate that, but I think he's done a good job there

[Wales-Bales]

Re: Breaking News

tricky one to navigate that, but I think he's done a good job there

We'll see when Trump replies to Starmer and the rest of the world at Davos. Macron also spoke recently, so it's clearly coordinated.

[Dorcus]

Re: Breaking News

tricky one to navigate that, but I think he's done a good job there

Appalling in my opinion. It shows what a spineless waste of space he is. I hope he won't prove to be the weak link in the European alliance.

He probably wants to ride the storm to look after his own interests until the Trump era is over. I think he is hugely mistaken. At the very least another 3 years of possible mayhem could render the status quo irrecoverable.

Why doesn't someone tell him appeasement never works; particularly with Trump.

[jon1959]

Re: Breaking News

We'll see when Trump replies to Starmer and the rest of the world at Davos. Macron also spoke recently, so it's clearly coordinated.

It may be co-ordinated - but I doubt it.

Starmer managed to come out with the most insipid rejection of Trump's latest imperial plan ('it is wrong') after firmer rejections from the Greens, the SNP, Plaid, the Lib Dems, the Tories (yes, amazingly Badenoch again out-performing Starmer) and even Reform (with Farage distancing himself from the man-child).

In Europe most countries have been unequivocal in denouncing Trump's plans - even Giorgia Meloni pushed back. I suspect Orban in Hungary is the only Trump fan left on Greenland.

Starmer has been craven - and at the back of all queues when it comes to standing up to Trump.

He (and his admirers) might think that is the clever way to play the situation, but it just helps to cement Trump World as the new normal.

[Wales-Bales]

Re: Breaking News

It may be co-ordinated - but I doubt it.

Starmer managed to come out with the most insipid rejection of Trump's latest imperial plan ('it is wrong') after firmer rejections from the Greens, the SNP, Plaid, the Lib Dems, the Tories (yes, amazingly Badenoch again out-performing Starmer) and even Reform (with Farage distancing himself from the man-child).

In Europe most countries have been unequivocal in denouncing Trump's plans - even Giorgia Meloni pushed back. I suspect Orban in Hungary is the only Trump fan left on Greenland.

Starmer has been craven - and at the back of all queues when it comes to standing up to Trump.

He (and his admirers) might think that is the clever way to play the situation, but it just helps to cement Trump World as the new normal.

They both know he is making a major speech at Davos in a day or two, so they are getting in first.

[Eric Cartman]

Re: Breaking News

It may be co-ordinated - but I doubt it.

Starmer managed to come out with the most insipid rejection of Trump's latest imperial plan ('it is wrong') after firmer rejections from the Greens, the SNP, Plaid, the Lib Dems, the Tories (yes, amazingly Badenoch again out-performing Starmer) and even Reform (with Farage distancing himself from the man-child).

In Europe most countries have been unequivocal in denouncing Trump's plans - even Giorgia Meloni pushed back. I suspect Orban in Hungary is the only Trump fan left on Greenland.

Starmer has been craven - and at the back of all queues when it comes to standing up to Trump.

He (and his admirers) might think that is the clever way to play the situation, but it just helps to cement Trump World as the new normal.

What is he actually meant to do here though? He is directly responsible for any consequences of escalation, so as much as it feels like he is in a comparable situation to the other party leaders, he isn't, they can say whatever they like without consequence and he can't.

European leaders can be stronger because they are still an economic powerhouse if they can find a way to act in a coordinated fashion.

Some people seem to think we have leverage that we absolutely don't. As long as we don't buckle as economic pressure rises, I think it's the right response. If Starmer, in the face of rising tariffs and other demented threats, says 'well actually, it would probably be better if America owned Greenland after all' then I am fully with you.

[Rjk]

Re: Breaking News

Appalling in my opinion. It shows what a spineless waste of space he is. I hope he won't prove to be the weak link in the European alliance.

He probably wants to ride the storm to look after his own interests until the Trump era is over. I think he is hugely mistaken. At the very least another 3 years of possible mayhem could render the status quo irrecoverable.

Why doesn't someone tell him appeasement never works; particularly with Trump.

Fair enough, each to their own.

I think it was the right way to play it though - we're dealing here with a vindictive man-baby with skin that is thinner than an atom. Sure going out all guns blazing (not that he has it in him) is more reflective of how most people are feeling about it - but I don't think it would make anything better - I don't think anyone (even the left) would be patting Starmer on the back about it.

[Heathblue]

Re: Breaking News

Appalling in my opinion. It shows what a spineless waste of space he is. I hope he won't prove to be the weak link in the European alliance.

He probably wants to ride the storm to look after his own interests until the Trump era is over. I think he is hugely mistaken. At the very least another 3 years of possible mayhem could render the status quo irrecoverable.

Why doesn't someone tell him appeasement never works; particularly with Trump.

Think I'm detecting a bit of buyers remorse here Dorcus, we've all had to fezz up on occasions, EXCEPT Cyril.

[Dorcus]

Re: Breaking News

Fair enough, each to their own.

I think it was the right way to play it though - we're dealing here with a vindictive man-baby with skin that is thinner than an atom. Sure going out all guns blazing (not that he has it in him) is more reflective of how most people are feeling about it - but I don't think it would make anything better - I don't think anyone (even the left) would be patting Starmer on the back about it.

I don't think he needed to go out all guns blazing at all. He merely had to deliver a curt, public message to Trump which is that we respect the transatlantic relationship and we want it to endure and flourish but the threat of imposing tariffs in this instance is a red line and we reserve the right to retaliate if necessary.

No big deal in my opinion. It would set the correct tone; open to dialogue but not willing to cave in. My estimation of him would have soared had he said that.

[Dorcus]

Re: Breaking News

Think I'm detecting a bit of buyers remorse here Dorcus, we've all had to fezz up on occasions, EXCEPT Cyril.

I never voted for the jerk in the first place.

[Rjk]

Re: Breaking News

I don't think he needed to go out all guns blazing at all. He merely had to deliver a curt, public message to Trump which is that we respect the transatlantic relationship and we want it to endure and flourish but the threat of imposing tariffs in this instance is a red line and we reserve the right to retaliate if necessary.

No big deal in my opinion. It would set the correct tone; open to dialogue but not willing to cave in. My estimation of him would have soared had he said that.

isn't that pretty much what he said?

[Dorcus]

Re: Breaking News

isn't that pretty much what he said?

No I think he overstated appeasement and understated the strength of European unity and resolve.

[Eric Cartman]

Re: Breaking News

No I think he overstated appeasement and understated the strength of European unity and resolve.

UK could have quite easily chosen not to be part of the token military deployment and avoided this, that would be appeasement. Talking big doesn't really get you anywhere, Trump can do it because the USA outranks everybody (or maybe the other truth is that Trump can't not do it because of his nature), understandably Denmark are forced to because they are the ones directly at the other end of the perceived threat. Putin has been talking big for 3 years and achieved next to nothing.