Sir Keir Rodney Starmer (born 2 September 1962) is a British politician and lawyer who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom since 2024 and as Leader of the Labour Party since 2020. He served as Leader of the Opposition from 2020 to 2024. He has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015, and was Director of Public Prosecutions from 2008 to 2013 [Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keir_Starmer].
When writing a blog-post, I pay give great consideration to it’s title. Often one comes before anything else. But generally, there are others to choose from. Other possibilities (for this blog-post) were “Throwing a spanner into the works……..” and “Be careful what you wish for: You might get it!”
Referencing the spanner alludes to the blog-post my friend Dr. Richard North has posted today (https://www.turbulenttimes.co.uk/news/front-page/middle-east-choose-your-enemy/). Like any two people, we do not always see “eye to eye”. Of course, “Be careful what you wish for: You might get it!” – requires no explanation!
Whether President Trump goes ahead with his threats at 8 PM Eastern Standard Time (EST) April 7 [≡ 2 AM British Summer Time (BST) 8 April] is anybody’s guess!
What is NOT in doubt is the diplomatic and political roller-coaster ride of events since January 20, 2025 (https://www.whitehouse.gov/remarks/2025/01/the-inaugural-address/)!
One of the things nobody cannot not accuse President Trump of is concealing his opinions! His opinions of course change, and when they do, he let’s the world know of the change! On Sir Keir Starmer he has compared him to The Right Honourable Neville Chamberlain FRS (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neville_Chamberlain). In this, I partially agree with President Trump – but for different reasons. You see, President Trump’s opinion of Neville Chamberlain is the one portrayed by the popular press (a weak appeaser). However, I am basing my opinion of Neville Chamberlain on a far more reliable and trusted source: My late father, Bernard H.G. Rogers (1906 -2003).
Dad was 32 in 1938 and was very “up to date” on current affairs. He was a member of the Liberal Party. He told me that as soon as Chamberlain landed back from Munich, the tempo of the UK changed dramatically. In effect, the country mobilised. Not just conscripting recruits into the services but the whole economy was being reorganised into a war economy. For everybody knew war was coming and the UK was NOT adequately prepared. Between 30 September 1938 and 11:15 AM 3 September 1939 Chamberlain had bought the UK and the wider British Empire precious time.
In the run up to the 2024 US Presidential Election I blogged that this election would be the most significant (for the UK) since the 1940 US Presidential Election. I do not think I am being overly dramatic, but I think the present situation is the most serious PEACETIME situation faced by a British Prime Minister since the 1938 Munich Security Conference.
Why?
Well in a world where there is no shortage of conspiracy theories, I would suggest one listens to this YouTube video of Rachel Maddow interviewing Senator Mark Warner of Virginia (https://youtu.be/ak__tRF8PnM).
The critics of President Trump are keen on referencing Mr Trump’s obvious cognitive decline. However, it is very unwise to dismiss Mr Trump as a demented imbecile. Demented he might be. Imbecile he is not. Then there is Mr Stephen Miller (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Miller). Mr Miller is a very controversial and outspoken figure in US politics. Being half Mr Trump’s age, Mr Miller is certainly not demented. And he most profoundly can NEVER be described as an imbecile!
Understand this Dear Reader: Mr Trump and Mr Miller have a plan! It is just that they have not fully told the world what it is!
Since coming to office for a second time, Mr Trump has demonstrated a preference for annoying the USA’s NATO allies. Canada was an early victim. Then there was Denmark. So serious was this antagonism over Greenland, the Danes went as far as preparing and stationing troops on Greenland with order to repel a US invasion! No such invasion took place.
Then we have the threats to withdraw the USA from NATO. Again, this was anticipated (https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48868).
Along with making no secret of his opinions, Mr Trump is also very keen to apportion blame for any problems arising from his administration’s decisions. That Sir Keir Starmer has refused permission for the USA to use UK bases to bomb Iran’s infrastructure is likely to be used as a reason why US action against Iran might not be as successful as it could have been.
When (NOT IF) Mr Trump walks away from Gulf War 3.0 one can be sure that he will apportion the blame to NATO and to the UK in particular!
King Charles III and Queen Camilla will meet US President Donald Trump in late April, as a state visit to the United States has been confirmed by Buckingham Palace (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjd8nkezdyxo).
We can expect US forces to continue with hostilities against Iran up to and until HM sets off from the UK to the USA. Using the excuse that negotiations are taking place (that will be denied by Iran) Mr Trump may call for a reduced tempo of operations during the visit. After HM is back in the UK Mr Trump might then call off Gulf War 3.0 and blame the failure on NATO’s lack of support and on the UK in particular!
Whilst Mr Trump would be unable to get Congress to withdraw from NATO, Mr Trump could still order the withdrawal of all US forces in NATO – and in particular the USA’s tactical nuclear weapons stored there. This would be the strongest possible signal to Mr Putin that the USA would not honour it’s Article 5 commitment.
Were Mr Trump to withdraw all US forces from Europe (and the middle east) and station them in the USA, there is the potential of their use – along with the US National Guard – to serve in an internal security role to guard against any outside (foreign) or domestic terrorist disturbance during the US midterm elections in November 2026.
Things do NOT bode well!