Starmer rebukes Trump

Why has the task of protecting our soldiers and their families on Cyprus has fallen to France, Greece and Spain?

It’s a national embarrassment.

Maremia

At least he's not in the Epstein Files.

Nor has he ever cosied up to the Russians.

Freya5

Casdon

Whitewavemark2

I actually think that there is a lot of enthusiasm for warmongers on these threads. Provided of course that they don’t have to take part , but can sit on the sidelines snipping.

There is very little enthusiasm for diplomacy.

You may be right Whitewavemark2. Whatever people think though I’d prefer if they just gave their views instead of constantly bemoaning what they don’t like, but offering no alternatives.

Seeing as non of us are in Government, it doesn't really matter what we say, does it. Whatever alternatives from us will not be listened to. We still have freedom of speech, so are entitled to say exactly as we please.
As Ricky says" just because you're offended, does not make you right".
Again anyone who disagrees with starmer, actually a puppet of hermet and milliband, who were not elected to govern but seem to have too much clout, you class as a warmonger. Disgraceful.still expect nothing else from you and w2.

It exposes people if they don’t have the wherewithal to respond thoughtfully about their own view, or to the posts of others, so I don’t take what they say seriously, that’s all Freya5. I’m sure most don’t care about that, but as you say we are all entitled to our view, including me.

It is good to see that our closer working with Europe over defence is paying off .

The British air base in Cyprus has had a drone make a hole in one of its hangers. We aren’t talking major destruction here, but European powers have stated that they are working together to secure Europe's interests in the combat zone. So expect to see craft of various nationalities in various locations throughout this region for the duration of the war by USA and Israel on Iran . I assume there is coordinated planning as to what is best deployed where.

Whitewavemark2

Maremia

At least he's not in the Epstein Files.

Nor has he ever cosied up to the Russians.

We expect a bit more in a PM than that.

Whitewavemark2

It is good to see that our closer working with Europe over defence is paying off .

The British air base in Cyprus has had a drone make a hole in one of its hangers. We aren’t talking major destruction here, but European powers have stated that they are working together to secure Europe's interests in the combat zone. So expect to see craft of various nationalities in various locations throughout this region for the duration of the war by USA and Israel on Iran . I assume there is coordinated planning as to what is best deployed where.

Maybe, but not by Starmer, so we need all the help we can get.

Casdon
As you say, we all have our views and so on, and don’t have to take the posts of others seriously and that means everyone on here and all posts including yours and mine.
The difference is, I don’t say, wouldn’t dream of it, that posters may not have the wherewithal to respond thoughtfully!

Oreo

Whitewavemark2

It is good to see that our closer working with Europe over defence is paying off .

The British air base in Cyprus has had a drone make a hole in one of its hangers. We aren’t talking major destruction here, but European powers have stated that they are working together to secure Europe's interests in the combat zone. So expect to see craft of various nationalities in various locations throughout this region for the duration of the war by USA and Israel on Iran . I assume there is coordinated planning as to what is best deployed where.

Maybe, but not by Starmer, so we need all the help we can get.

Starmer was one of the initiators of this coalition.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Why has the task of protecting our soldiers and their families on Cyprus has fallen to France, Greece and Spain?

It’s a national embarrassment.

Years of cutting back on our defence.

John Healey re HMS Dragon:
"It will be here when it is here. Within two weeks". 🤔

It’s pathetic isn’t it?

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Why has the task of protecting our soldiers and their families on Cyprus has fallen to France, Greece and Spain?

It’s a national embarrassment.

We have about one third (if that) of the RN vessels we had at the time of the Jubilee Spithead review, FGT2.

Sorry, to clarify, the 1977 Spithead Review.

Looking up the figures.

Defence spending fell by a whopping 22% during the Cameron years. Our military personnel fell from 102k to 70+k. The subsequent Tory governments were forced to spend more because if NATO and Ukraine.

But make no mistake, the Tories hollowed out our defences, and it will take time and a lot of money to recuperate the loses.

It might be helpful to look at UK spending on defence.

2024/25: £60.2 billion (approx. +7.7% in real terms over 2023/24)
2023/24: £53.9 billion
2022/23: £52.8 billion
2021/22: £45.9 billion
2020/21: £42.4 billion
2019/20: £39.8 billion

Blaming the current government for our lack of defence capacity is somewhat ridiculous when significant increases have not happened for years, until 2024/25.

Casdon

It might be helpful to look at UK spending on defence.

2024/25: £60.2 billion (approx. +7.7% in real terms over 2023/24)
2023/24: £53.9 billion
2022/23: £52.8 billion
2021/22: £45.9 billion
2020/21: £42.4 billion
2019/20: £39.8 billion

Blaming the current government for our lack of defence capacity is somewhat ridiculous when significant increases have not happened for years, until 2024/25.

I didn't.

I said Years of cutting back on our defence

Rate of inflation headline for same period:
Key UK Inflation Data (Annual Average & Key Peaks)
2019: ~1.74% – 1.79%
2020: ~0.85% – 0.99% (COVID-19 pandemic)
2021: ~2.59% (Post-lockdown reopening)
2022: ~9.07% (Average), peaking at 11.1% in Oct 2022
2023: Continued high, decreasing late in the year
2024: Further decline in the rate
2025/2026: Easing to 3.6% (Oct 2025) and 3.2% (Nov 2025)

Casdon

It might be helpful to look at UK spending on defence.

2024/25: £60.2 billion (approx. +7.7% in real terms over 2023/24)
2023/24: £53.9 billion
2022/23: £52.8 billion
2021/22: £45.9 billion
2020/21: £42.4 billion
2019/20: £39.8 billion

Blaming the current government for our lack of defence capacity is somewhat ridiculous when significant increases have not happened for years, until 2024/25.

Those figures might go up but what about their correspondence to inflation?

X post!!

Sorry, I wasn’t addressing that to you Allira, it was a general point I thought was relevant to the many criticisms about UK defence capacity and response..

Casdon

Sorry, I wasn’t addressing that to you Allira, it was a general point I thought was relevant to the many criticisms about UK defence capacity and response..

No, I was slowly writing my post and you were there before me
Mind reader. 😀

Here’s the House of Commons Briefing Paper which gives projected spending and some insights into the previous decline in defence spending. In light of what’s happening in the world now, it takes a strong stomach to read, the comparison with other countries is interesting because it’s clear the greater the perceived threat the great proportion of the nation’s budget is allocated to defence, as you’d expect.
commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/cbp-8175/

Yesterday the Gov UK website added a statement by the PM on how he has reacted to the situation between Iran the US and Israel, both before and after the attacks, and why, and what defences are in place.
Given the amount of criticism he is facing, some of it ill-informed, I suggest everyone should read that for information from source, unfiltered by media.
Sorry I can't add a link, as my pc is being difficult and I am typing this on an old phone.

Here you go

www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-remarks-on-the-situation-in-the-middle-east-5-march-2026#:~:text=My%20focus%20is%20providing%20calm,To%20protect%20our%20people.&text=No%20matter%20the%20pressure%20to%20do%20otherwise.

And I agree with nearly every word.

Whatever path he took, he would have been "damned if he did, damned if he didnt".

Thank you for the link Wyllow. In a time of war surely it's better if we stand together and not make unfounded accusations against the government.
As the information on defence spending provide by Casdon shows the lack of spending on defence by the Tories has caused the UK to be weakened. Labour is trying to rectify this.
I believe Keir Starmer is doing the right thing by taking defensive action only.

agaa4

I seem to remember that during the last crises - covid - the official opposition supported the government as far as was possible. Standing together in a crises.

Mind you the Tories are so insignificant these days that it hardly matters really, particularly as they are responsible for the parlous state of our defences.