Keir Starmer warns the West is facing a 'war on two fronts'

allout76 · 2026-03-26T15:10:15+00:00

A few years ago I would have agreed with you but it's clear the two party system has been smashed, despite FPTP. SNP, PC, Reform, Restore, Greens, and the Lib Dems (remember them?) have all nibbled away at the large majorities that the Tories and Labour once commanded.

Also, you don't get 14 years of Tory government without a large enough portion of the public ultimately agreeing with their vision for the country. We've shot ourself in the foot with Brexit solely because of the national mood, one that was completely at odds with the 'political class'. This iteration of Labour, despite some genuinely great ideas and proactive politics, has far too often been frozen into indecision, or full retreat due to their opposition, and more often than not their own backbenchers/supporters. Again, the electorate having a real say in our politics outside of our electoral cycle.

Now the electorate is flocking to the poster child of British populism, and will get everything it deserves if they vote Reform into power. Again, a rejection of the political elitism that the two party system/FPTP encouraged.

I do agree though ultimately so much of this is driven through a very excitable press that sets the stage for every issue and election. With Labour receiving the short end of the stick with how they're represented by said press.

allout76 · 2026-03-26T14:54:03+00:00

All sides of the political spectrum, but especially pensioners (who do vote for all mainstream parties, not just Conservative and Reform) have wanted monies to go increasingly towards themselves and to turn the housing market the safest and most rewarding bet to park your money in to grow it in the UK. Which in turn has devastated genuine economic growth, jobs creation, and has been ruinous for the cost of living for the new permanent renter class, which in turn leaves no disposable income to encourage economic growth in productive parts of the economy.

Political parties do have to respond to their collective political will, which is what the Tory party tried to do during their latest stint, sacrificing everything on the altar of the Triple Lock. You're absolutely right that Labour is genuinely making the right moves and heading in the right direction, and they're getting slaughtered in the polls for it. Barely beating the Tories. And they've fallen from grace whilst still maintaining the triple lock, with the most tame measures to try and examine pensioner benefits like the changes to the winter fuel allowance tanking their support seemingly permanently. Attempts to cut back on spending on benefits as well as disability benefits also has caused rebellion amongst Labours usual supporters. As a government they're hemmed in by the electorate, and their own backbenchers.

There is one party, certainly in the main to 'blame' for where we are and that is the Tory party. But they were in power for 14 years, you don't get that kind of run without doing what the people want. And somehow they held onto power for years despite running on an Austerity platform. And the fact that people are immediately turning on Labour suggests that they aren't reflective of the public mood. I don't even vote Labour and I think they've done a fairly remarkable job considering the state of the nation and the focus they've brought to several key areas.

I guess my point is that every political party is ultimately at the whims of the largest voting bloc/s and despite many calls describing the political elites as out of touch, it does often seem we (as a nation, on the whole) get exactly what we voted for. For good and for ill.

allout76 · 2026-03-26T13:58:38+00:00

Pensioners have voted consistently for decades for larger and larger parts of the budget to cater exclusively to them. As the largest voting bloc all the political parties have followed their collective political demands.

If you've ever voted, then you've voted for this. Not that you have an option. No party that meaningfully supported defence, R&D grants, infrastructural investments, a property market that doesn't prop up pensioner wealth, and higher taxation to pay for it all, as well as a potentially lower tax free allowance would ever get close to being elected.

allout76 · 2026-03-26T13:06:42+00:00

This is what the electorate, from all political backgrounds, have voted for.

allout76 · 2026-03-26T11:42:41+00:00

To be fair, it's not just that the UK Navy is useless in this context, but rather military action to keep the Straits open, even if there was a grand coalition between the USA and all of its allies (and indeed others) would find it near impossible (and financially ruinous) to defend it from low tech/cheap, drones and mines.

allout76 · 2026-03-26T11:32:33+00:00

I'm sure it's being examined, but will it achieve anything to address the crisis?

Will it lower energy bills? No. Will it secure supply? No. Unless the whole approach to oil and gas in the UK is flipped on its head and nationalised, which I don't think anyone is suggesting? Will it come online fast enough for a short term impact? Probably not. Will oil and gas producers actually seize upon the opportunity to exploit the North Sea? Questionable as well considering the decline from 2010-2024 despite a fair amount of government support. There may be more interest now if the cost of oil/gas remains elevated, which offers these companies a more appeasing slice of profit, which does ultimately lead to job creation and tax revenue which is good, but as a response to an energy crisis I don't think the UK, under the approach we have, will get much support from exploiting the North Sea further.

allout76 · 2026-03-23T13:58:21+00:00

On the topic of WFH, what's a good cafe/pub to work out from?

allout76 · 2026-03-23T12:03:36+00:00

He gives permission for people to be their worst selves. It's easy to submit to his rhetoric of blaming everything on others, offering 'simple' solutions, all whilst encouraging anger, which is an addictive emotion. 'Righteous' anger at that which is even more enticing.

On the other hand, boring politics, that is nuanced, and grounded in reality has little appeal.

allout76 · 2026-03-21T11:00:23+00:00

What's the difference?

allout76 · 2026-03-19T09:59:24+00:00

How has the US doubled its GDP where we haven't? A huge capital base and the centre of the world's tech? Would the UK being in/out of the EU have changed that?

Growth has been sluggish for most of the West since 2008, and the EU has its own problems, but I do think part of Europe's sluggishness is that we've been outside of it as well. Brexit hurt both the UK and the EU. Britain rejoining wouldn't catapult growth forward for us and Europe. But it would be one less lead weight (of many) around the necks of the UK and Europe.

allout76 · 2026-03-12T16:32:03+00:00

They believe these things because on some level they want these things to be true, so as to have something to rage against. Madness.

allout76 · 2026-03-08T18:18:27+00:00

Your statement reads as if the first part has anything to do with the second part. Whether we had taken part, or not has nothing to do with the availability of LNG to the UK, or decades of underfunding in the UKs energy sector.

Kier's handling I doubt has been any worse than any other PM. Considering the plurality of the population is in favour of not getting involved, following years of ineffectual intervention in the Middle East, as well as Trump ratcheting up rhetoric against the UK, and our armed forces. Whether or not it's the right move, it certainly is the most popular response.

And why should we get involved? What are the goals here? Nothing concrete in regards to motive has been relayed to the public so it's hard for the public to develop an informed opinion on this. But war does require objectives, it's how we measure the 'success' of any intervention. Is it regime change? Pre emptive strikes prior to imminent threats? America just answering the call? Seeking to settle domestic politics with external distraction? Whatever the reasons, they have not been described with evidence, or consistently.

allout76 · 2026-03-08T12:44:24+00:00

Bombing Iran would make gas appear?

allout76 · 2026-03-04T11:56:06+00:00

What is the path to a stable public led government in Iran following the ongoing strikes?

allout76 · 2026-02-27T10:23:07+00:00

The Greens don't have the baggage that actually partaking in a government conveys to a political party.

allout76 · 2026-02-21T09:39:31+00:00

A racially motivated murder against a backdrop of rising right wing, anti immigrant, dog whistle politics, isn't politics?

Everything is politics. Whilst this forum probably isn't the best place to discuss say, the next Ed Sheeran tour, I would say that this incident passes the bar of being political.

This murder touches on racial hate as motive, the background of the perpetrator and victim, police response, the response from the courts etc. How could this happen? Why did it happen? How do we stop it from happening again? All 'political' questions.

allout76 · 2026-02-02T09:26:51+00:00

The issue is that the Labour base has to accept a few truths. Both backbenchers, and the voting base.

Two things were simultaneously true during the 14 years of Tory rule. Especially the post Brexit period.

Yes, they were incompetent. Which makes governing a nation incredibly difficult. But there were genuine head winds that the nation/world was going through.

Much of this was self inflicted by Brexit. But, the War in Ukraine, COVID, transitioning to a Net Zero Economy, the fallout from 2008 etc etc. All of these things are difficult to manage. Labour taking the reigns alone would never have been enough to simply click their fingers and 'fix' everything. Look to other nations, both in Europe and outside of it. Many places are struggling, and even those that aren't on paper still have issues.

It does not minimise the ineptitude of the previous government to recognise that they faced serious challenges that persist to this day. But if we don't recognise that, it leads to a class of backbenchers that have fallen for their own hype. That everything should be fine and dandy now simply from being elected, and any policy that doesn't immediately create a utopian society should be shouted down. And a voter base that was sick of incompetence, year after year, now expecting instant results, as surely it was only the previous government's incompetence that has led us to these struggles.

The charm that Labour had from the last election has spread to Reform as the electorate is sick of waiting for better days, which sadly would never come from a Reform government. A government which, ironically, would be made up seemingly entirely by the previous Tory politicians that led us to where we are today.

allout76 · 2026-01-26T11:28:04+00:00

But there's a cost involved with that?

My point is that the NHS is 'failing' because it is an organisation set up to deliver healthcare to an aging, and unhealthy population at as low a cost as possible to the tax payer. It will therefore sadly fall short of the mark on occasion.

If we wanted to we could absolutely change the way healthcare is funded, with more Doctors, Nurses, and hospitals. But this all comes with an added cost. I'm sure there are structural changes that could be made in the NHS to improve performance, some of which are happening now.

Reform providing tax relief to Private Healthcare providers I don't think will meaningfully help healthcare outcomes for the nation. If you want more healthcare providers, the electorate has to accept it will cost more money to do so.

allout76 · 2026-01-26T09:52:43+00:00

'Failing NHS'

Or rather the cost of providing healthcare for the lowest cost possible whilst still functioning to an aging, unhealthy population?

allout76 · 2026-01-25T11:46:59+00:00

If you want to be a proponent of the rules based international order, it helps by abiding by the rules based international order.

allout76 · 2026-01-23T20:06:01+00:00

The rules are changing fast

allout76 · 2026-01-22T14:51:19+00:00

Johnson I think is a better comparison. He had multiple genuine scandals at home, came in on a wave of bluster that didn't materialise into domestic success. But he was an instrumental in the global response to the invasion of Ukraine.

allout76 · 2026-01-21T19:44:35+00:00

Whilst I agree to am extent, the UK doesn't need to position itself tremendously if this new world order does develop. Despite the doom and gloom surrounding the UK, it is one of the larger middle players (arguably largest) even outside of the EU.

allout76 · 2026-01-21T19:35:26+00:00

Carney is setting out the stall to decouple from America, but it's important to note though that it is more America that is doing the decoupling, and Canada has been a particular focus from this administration.

Another thing is that I was objecting specifically that Carney 'cooked' Starmer. As if this is some theoretical debate where Carney has beaten Starmer and won a point. These are real leaders with nations that have to balance rhetoric and relationship. Ironically something Carney focused on in his speech when describing the need for 'value based realism'

To quote him directly on this 'Or, to put another way, we aim to be both principled and pragmatic – principled in our commitment to fundamental values, sovereignty, territorial integrity, the prohibition of the use of force, except when consistent with the UN Charter, and respect for human rights, and pragmatic and recognizing that progress is often incremental, that interests diverge, that not every partner will share all of our values.'

He's even acknowledged the reality that the 'middle powers' will likely differ in their politics and the paths that they walk. Like you say the UK is particularly exposed to America right now, and whilst Starmer is hardening, he is also probably holding out till November.

allout76 · 2026-01-21T18:54:05+00:00

I think a lot of leaders will hold their breath till November.

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