I know the 2003 film Love Actually has not lasted well, for all sorts of reasons. There are definite issues that can be raised about it. But, as a matter of fact, a lot of people watched it, and if you're into political economy (and if you read this blog, then you are going to have some problems denying that) then one scene stands out. That's the one where Hugh Grant, playing the UK prime minister, challenges the visiting US President on his use of the term ‘special relationship'.
For those who want a cinematic reminder, this is it:
For those who prefer a transcript, try this:
I love that word relationship. Covers all manner of sins, doesn't it? I fear that this has become a bad relationship. A relationship based on the President taking exactly what he wants and casually ignoring all those things that really matter to, um, Britain.
We may be a small country, but we're a great one too. The country of Shakespeare, Churchill, The Beatles, Sean Connery, Harry Potter, David Beckham's right foot, and David Beckham's left foot, come to that.
And a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend. And since bullies only respond to strength, from now onward, I will be prepared to be much stronger. And the President should be prepared for that.
One line most especially stands out:
And a friend who bullies us is no longer a friend.
The US is now bullying us.
It is treating us with contempt.
We do not share values.
There is little or no common ground.
They are no longer a friend.
When will Keir Starmer acknowledge that?
When will he say we cannot be the friend of fascists?
When will he say we are looking for a new path?
When will he say, quite simply, that the relationship is over?
If he doesn't he will fail us all.
But it will take courage to do the right thing. It always does. Does he have that courage? On this issue he will get no second chances. There is no compromise to be had with fascism. Will he compromise, or won't he? That is the question. It is the way we will discover who the man really is.
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Starmer is ruthless, stubborn, weak, and unable to think strategically. The answer is predictable.
All true. But if he did respond in a similar way/style/content that Grant did – DeForm would fizzle, the Tories would faint and I have zero doubt that his popularity (& perhaps that of LINO) would rocket. It won’t happen. Pity. Pity politicos don’t listen/see the output of art/entertainment since such output often contains truths.
There was an interesting comment on National Preservation by @Jamessquared who is very perceptive
https://www.national-preservation.com/threads/perhaps-trump-is-not-a-chump.640937/page-373
Post 7445 on a thread I started many many years ago
Do those priorities align with “support dictators who brutally invade neighbouring sovereign countries?” Because that is where Trump is leading the world.
Long term, Trump will not only be bad for the world, but bad for the US. For decades, many countries broadly in the western world have been happy to put themselves under the umbrella of US military protection, but in return have largely acquiesced with a US-dominated world view around trade etc. That bargain has relied on the US being seen as a stable partner. There must be a lot of Governments around the world anxiously reconsidering that stance. The US may increasingly find it hard to enforce its own world view on the rest of the world.
Tom
The 2024 election saw a 63% turnout. About 50% did not vote for Trump. There are many Americans who are as appalled as we are. They might be able to change things.
But I agree, Richard, we can’t compromise with Fascism. It looks difficult but there is no alternative if we are to remain true to ourselves.
The many Americans who are anti-Trump would welcome clear messages from other countries condemning what’s going on. We owe it to those sane citizens to support them. The climate will be under serious threat if we don’t.
I think this is why my Trump videos go well in the US.
That is a very good point. We should support those many Americans who detest Trump and all he stands for by standing up for pluralism, human rights, democracy and the rule of law in our actions as a country.
By doing so we oppose Trump and help those in the USA who will fight him. Maybe the US will get over this, maybe not. Either way, this is the time (should have happened years ago really) to ditch the absurd fiction of the special relationship.
If the Trump regime continues on this path maybe it’s time we called time on US bases on UK soil as well.
Starmer’s in a bit of a pickle, isn’t he? Assuming he, or one of his advisors, is half-way politically competent he has to balance these::
* USA bullying the politicians
* Friends of Israel buying the politicians
* Reform quietly threatening the politicians
* Thatcher’s Falklands Effect
against the Brexit debate that made much of the electorate’s refusal to sign-up to a potential conscripted European Defence Force; and Ursula von Leyen’s call to arms.
If “we” align with the USA, what comes in on the coat-tails? Food imports? United Healthcare et al? War against Denmark, over Greenland? And we keep Trident+ (that’s a USA nasty in my book).
What’s the alternative? The sensible one? We sign-up to Europe as a junior partner, with an undetermined rôle and an aura of untrustworthiness about our heads? That’s if they’ll agree to it.
Rachel from Accounts won’t like it, either way. At least von Leyen explained the financial consequences from funding Europe-wide defence.
Facetiously, I’m wondering how easy it is to make cuckoo clocks and triangular chocolate.
Unfortunately, the British government has bad form on this – I recall that even Harold Wilson who used to call the Tories ‘bastards’ sold a British owned island to the U.S. – the Chagos Islands was it in the Indian Ocean, and evicted all the folk under sovereign protection. We were not told at the time and for some time. Starmer-ism existed then it seems. If the Tories were ‘bastards’, I wonder what old Harold thought of the Yanks?
‘Special Relationship’ in the U.S. terms is ‘We whupped your ass buddy between 1775-1783, now do as you are told – we’re in charge now’.
The ‘Art of the Deal’? The ‘Art of the Steal’ more like.
I would like us to cool our relationship with the American government. The American people are another matter. I’ve met so many over the years travelling abroad and they are just like the rest of us to be honest – normal people just trying to live under the yolk of exploitation.
Suppose a country decided to abolish dual language road sign in order to advance its ethnic majority language. That wouldn’t be a big deal, single language road signs are quicker to read and make a lot of sense. But that country went further and abolished state-funded education in the minority language, and minority language media production. And then demanded military funding from its neighbours and remarkably got it. And then went and banned the minority language tv channels which were still available for people who liked to watch some soapy drivel in the first language of their family when they got home from work.
That would be a fascist country surely, and countries that didn’t call it out would be complicit.
So why isn’t Sir Keir Starmer and Mr Lammy taking that steppe and calling out this fascism when it’s in plain sight?
Starmer like most politicians in the United States that anre either on the payroll of or desire they be on the payroll of the super rich.
Men whose only aspiration in life is to be nothing more than the physician to the French aristocracy so to speak. There is another very useful charm for people like Starmer: apparatchik
Now steer Keir wants to be the bridge between the US and the Europe.
Deluded or what!!
King Donald only thinks in deals that benefit him. He has little idea of how the real world works.
Strangely stopping Canadian crude has not crossed his mind that without it US
Now no steer Keir wants to be the bridge between the US and Europe.
Deluded or what!
King Donald only thinks of the world in the extremely narrow view of the New York property market. This is not the best way to run a country.
Doing property deals is not the same are “ruling”.
For example ranting about Canada and threatening to stop importing their crude oil ignores the stark economic reality that without it most US refineries would not work.
The ceo of Ford has warned that tariffs will cripple the US car industry.
The UK needs to stop pretending that it’s a world power and accept that it is a small insignificant group of islands off north west Europe who has to avoid as best it can being shafted by the big boys and girls.
If you read the book Vassal State , it will quickly become clear how much aligned Britian is with America . The influence is extensive and important parts of the British economy have passed into the ownership of American commercial companies and private equity, welcomed with open arms by our policy makers. The book is shocking and there is not a cat in hell’s chance of the UK , with whatever party is in charge of changing this anytime soon . Read this Book.
Thanks
Ultimately, what determines the opinions and actions of a majority of 650 MPs whose official support Starmer needs for any course of action?
How do THEY see THEIR future self- interest?
In the corporate boardroom?
On quangos, running government agencies, getting lucrative private contracts, becoming ministers or secretaries of state, or even PM, or collecting offshore bribes, or cutting and running with their generous parliamentary & government/opposition severance payouts?
For a few, surviving in office, to make a difference FOR their constituents, because that was why they went there in the first place?
Doing something to avoid climate breakdown, for the sake of their and their global neighbours’ grandchildren?
Locating their backbone for the first time since their first candidate selection interview?
Who/what are they MOST scared of?
What do they MOST WANT?
What matters MOST to them?
Does integrity?
How well informed, guillible, stupid or stubborn are they?
Who OWNS them?
I don’t think we know the answers to many of those questions, and perhaps for the first time since the 1930’s, the answers are a matter of life & death for a LOT of people including the MPs themselves.
Sadly, they do not appear to be an inspiring bunch, but I remain hopeful. My mental health depends on me hanging on to hope.
Maybe they can surprise me?