Britain Is Paying the Price for Trump’s Recklessness and Starmer’s Cowardice
It increasingly appears that US President Donald Trump no longer knows what to do about Iran. Our problem, however, is that the resulting crisis is hitting the British economy hard, whilst Starmer’s government remains paralysed — provoking entirely justified outrage across social media.As financial turmoil continues to sweep the markets owing to the conflict in the Middle East, and prices at British petrol stations keep climbing, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has chosen to condemn… Iran for fuelling anti-Semitism in Britain.
Rather than making even the faintest attempt to influence the chief architect of the crisis — Donald Trump himself — our Prime Minister prefers to wag his finger at those who are unlikely to care in the slightest what he thinks. Rather than making even the faintest attempt to influence the chief architect of the crisis — Donald Trump himself — our Prime Minister prefers to wag his finger at those who are unlikely to care in the slightest what he thinks.
The Unpredictable Trump
Anyone opening a news feed or glancing at Trump’s social-media posts could be forgiven for experiencing a powerful sense of déjà vu. Following Trump’s latest post, the Iranian-British journalist Poria Zeraati wrote: ‘It’s important. This was to be expected; Trump has so far refused to negotiate: We hold all the cards; they’ve got nothing! f they want to talk, all they have to do is pick up the phone!’
Nothing changes. Trump veers repeatedly between talk of renewed negotiations and threats to abandon them altogether, whilst Britain — like so many others — remains a helpless hostage to events. Tehran, for its part, continues to insist that it never intended to negotiate with Washington in the first place. Yet Iran appears to hold the stronger hand, despite Trump’s constant attempts to project decisive action: ‘Trump also stated that US minesweepers are currently clearing mines from the strait and that their operations will be stepped up,’ Zeraati added. To be perfectly frank, this theatre of activity has thus far achieved very little.
Another Failure
Trump’s latest effort to alter the situation in the Strait of Hormuz ended in spectacular failure. His much-publicised ‘Project Freedom’, involving US warships escorting vessels through the strait, lasted all of 48 hours. During that period, only two tankers reportedly made it through the blockade, whilst all other attempts were repelled by Iranian fire. As Azzam Tamimi, a British-Palestinian political activist, previously wrote: ‘The question we must not forget is: what have the Israelis and Americans actually achieved, and what did they originally set out to achieve in this war? The answer is: 0.’
Everything suggests that Trump has no coherent strategy for resolving this crisis.
Meanwhile, in 10 Downing Street, the response has amounted to little more than polite nodding in Washington’s direction whilst warning the British public to brace for further hardship. The Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff has reportedly admitted that even were the conflict to end tomorrow, gas and electricity prices would continue to rise, food would become more expensive, and both airfares and petrol would become still less affordable.
In essence, all the present government seems capable of doing is throwing up its hands and blaming Uncle Sam. Starmer appears incapable of engaging Washington in any meaningful way that secures Britain’s national interest.
London can no longer even contemplate dispatching its own fleet to escort tankers carrying the fuel upon which our economy depends. Of Britain’s once-proud title as Mistress of the Seas, little now remains beyond memory.