As the war in Ukraine reaches a critical juncture, Sir Keir Starmer faces one of his most severe tests yet.
Donald Trump’s account of his telephone call with the warmonger Vladimir Putin prompted fears Ukraine was being cut out of talks on its own future.
As the White House abandoned the previous administration’s ‘Nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine’ mantra, commentators speculated there would be champagne corks popping in the Kremlin.
Let us pray that the ultimate outcome is more palatable to Kyiv, as we remember that since being invaded nearly three years ago, Ukraine has suffered at least 45,000 deaths among its forces and more than 12,000 lost civilian lives.
Regrettably, Britain’s ability to influence how all this develops is probably at its nadir, thanks to Labour.
The Prime Minister has appointed a Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, who once described Mr Trump as a ‘tyrant’ and a ‘woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath’.
As our new ambassador to Washington, Sir Keir has selected Lord Mandelson, who previously dubbed Mr Trump ‘reckless and a danger to the world’, and a ‘bully’.
As we well know, Mr Trump has a long memory and tends not to forgive personal slights. Sir Keir is yet to meet the 47th President and has thus far been thrown precious few scraps.
Sir Keir Starmer has appointed a Foreign Secretary, David Lammy, who once described Mr Trump as a ‘tyrant’ and a ‘woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath’
Donald Trump ’s account of his telephone call with the warmonger Vladimir Putin prompted fears Ukraine was being cut out of talks on its own future
Then there is the thorny issue of defence spending.Mr Trump has made it vividly clear that he is not at all interested in underwriting the defence of Europe. He wants leaders here to commit to spending 5 per cent of GDP on it.
Amid this rapid geopolitical flux, Labour’s foot-dragging on its promise to ‘set out the path to spending 2.5 per cent of GDP’ is looking less and less sustainable.
A decision is needed – and needed now.As the senior Conservative MP Sir Bernard Jenkin said in the Commons yesterday Britain ‘must be ready to fight a war with Russia if necessary’.
Putin is in his strongest position since the early days of the war, when many predicted Ukraine’s flat capitulation, and may yet be emboldened by his bloody invasion.
He is likely to re-arm and come back for more – either in Ukraine or further afield.Labour must be very sure it does not leave this country at risk of unimaginable harm as a result of its dithering.
Stagnation nation
Official economic data published yesterday signals how we are all poorer under this Government. GDP per capita – the proxy for living standards – showed a 0.1 per cent fall in the final three months of last year.
In a fresh blow to the Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s flailing growth ambitions, official economic data published yesterday showed a 0.1 per cent fall in living standards
Since the election, Labour has said it will use these very figures to measure its performance on growth.
So, by its own standards, the Government is failing. With Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s dire handling of the economy so far, no one should count on feeling flush any time soon.
Her disastrous decision to hike National Insurance contributions for employers (which, don’t forget, does not even kick in until April) will see firms employing fewer staff and having less to spend on pay rises.
The Government needs to follow a radically different path, with policies to help the private sector flourish – otherwise a stagnating economy will have us all feeling the pinch.