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Will our governments finally grasp that Trump (and any likely GOP successor) is no longer an ally in any real sense to Europe ?

We are still grossly underestimating the implications of that.
And one possible future PM is an abject toady towards Trump.

Bild and Axios: Trump attacked Europe during today's call. The conversation was heated. Trump shifted responsibility for putting pressure on Putin to Europe. Europeans no longer expect Trump to impose sanctions against Russia.

Trump accused Europeans of buying Russian oil and financing its war machine. Ursula von der Leyen tried to object, saying that Europe had significantly reduced purchases after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Trump was reminded that only Hungary and Slovakia directly import Russian oil. Witkoff turned the tables and accused Europe of buying Russian oil from India.

When the conversation turned to sanctions, Europe attempted to agree on a joint approach with the American president. The Europeans immediately offered to send their representatives to Washington to set up a working group on sanctions within 48 hours. It is not known whether Trump agreed.

Trump told the Europeans that they should put pressure on China to give up Russian oil. Trump himself did not introduce secondary duties on China for purchasing oil from Russia, he only introduced them on India.

Trump emphasized that Europe should put more pressure on Russia.

After the conversation, Europeans no longer expect Trump to impose sanctions against Russia.
https://x.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/1963705264936460405

How far is that Trump specific, Republican specific or America from now on?
I guess the hope is that Donald goes, the Democrats win, things go back to normal.
For myself, I think it's clear that Europe needs to be less reliant on the US.

Normal wasn't good.

Britain needs to be more independent as a country full stop. That doesn't begin or end with Trump - the point of independence is that it's there when you need it.

Is this trust a lot more complicated than what we’ve already heard ? And wouldn’t those tax advisers have asked for more detail before giving their advice if that was the case .

I tend to think Rayner genuinely didn’t try and rip off the HMRC because that would have been just so short sighted and risky given what happened last year .

Surely no one would be this stupid . It could be that she simply can’t prove that it was a genuine error and will end up going because of that .

This would be a massive loss to Labour because she was seen as the natural successor to Starmer , someone with a back story that meant she was seen as one of us not one of them .

If she's done for its a win for the UK. She is ghastly in so many ways. The thought of her as Prine Minister is just hideous.

I would have loved to have seen her as PM but I accept she’s a bit of a Marmite character .

Genuine question. Why? What do you think would have made her a good PM? What evidence is there for this?

Or just shits and giggles?

She’s not wooden and would show a lot more vision for the country . She’s relatable and if you get the right people around you it’s not such a tough gig .

Who is she relateable to though? To small business owners who have struggled to set up and run business? To the aspiring middle classes? To urban professionals? The global wealthy? Men?

Like any politician she’s relateable to a certain section of society but also there are far more people who would look and not see anything like them.

And what’s her vision? Tax the scum?

There’s been a bit of a myth built about her because she’s someone who has gone places from a tough start but that is it. It’s admirable in itself but I don’t see any great skills, ideas, understanding - the fact that she seems to loathe viscerally a large chunk of the country doesn’t strike me as a suitable person to lead the country.

Although this didn't stop Osborne, or possibly Boris, aswell.

Osborne never got to be leader, Boris was up against a bloke who was painted as a mad marxist who loved terrorists and appeared to do his best to confirm the media profile. Boris personal ratings were never very good, it is all relative.

An unusually straight-from-the-shoulder podcast discussing Nigel Farage from the News Agents, sitting on the sea front at Clacton, including a selection of vox pops as well as Emily Maitlis & Co being unusually blunt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXB4G1YSp98

I hadn't twigged that Farage is actually over there to promote GBNews, and the appearance at the Republican controlled committee in Congress was a sideshow; he walked out before his own question session had finished, and was willing to obfuscate about banning journalists from events and communication with Reform led councils.

It is notable that Paul Marshall is also in the USA, also putting out a "please save us from the UK Government" type line.

It will be interesting how Free Speech Nigel handles it at the Reform Conference this weekend. We may not hear, because his Party have banned some journalists who do not have opinions they like.

I'll update a couple of points on my view:

1 - I said I thought Reform would have to take action against their people or branches which are keen on Tommy Robinson & Co. Judging by his Washington performance, they could potentially jump the other way.
2 - He could get defenestrated by his own constituency, since he's never seen there.

Kate Ferguson
@kateferguson4
·
36m
Brace for lots of angry tweets about how rubbish Euston station is on here.

Spoiler - Reform Party conference is in Birmingham.

The lobby have to get the train from Euston station.

Birmingham New Street and Euston are two stations I hate as much as pineapple on pizza.

What's wrong with Euston? It's got a Hotel Chocolat, the good type of Leon, an M&S. There are some OK pubs. It's near Drummond Street if you want to go to a proper restaurant.

There's no space on the platforms. And they're in the bowels.

Plus, it says "Grand Central" on the outside but not "Birmingham New Street", which is deeply confusing.

Moor Street is nice.

Will our governments finally grasp that Trump (and any likely GOP successor) is no longer an ally in any real sense to Europe ?

We are still grossly underestimating the implications of that.
And one possible future PM is an abject toady towards Trump.

Bild and Axios: Trump attacked Europe during today's call. The conversation was heated. Trump shifted responsibility for putting pressure on Putin to Europe. Europeans no longer expect Trump to impose sanctions against Russia.

Trump accused Europeans of buying Russian oil and financing its war machine. Ursula von der Leyen tried to object, saying that Europe had significantly reduced purchases after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Trump was reminded that only Hungary and Slovakia directly import Russian oil. Witkoff turned the tables and accused Europe of buying Russian oil from India.

When the conversation turned to sanctions, Europe attempted to agree on a joint approach with the American president. The Europeans immediately offered to send their representatives to Washington to set up a working group on sanctions within 48 hours. It is not known whether Trump agreed.

Trump told the Europeans that they should put pressure on China to give up Russian oil. Trump himself did not introduce secondary duties on China for purchasing oil from Russia, he only introduced them on India.

Trump emphasized that Europe should put more pressure on Russia.

After the conversation, Europeans no longer expect Trump to impose sanctions against Russia.
https://x.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/1963705264936460405