The U.K. has moved on from Brexit.

Starmer as representing the European defence contingent contacted Trump, and Trump has agreed alongside the Europeans to call Putin out to agree a 30 day ceasefire.

Hopefully there will be some relief for the Ukranians.

Thankfully as a country we have moved on from Brexit and from endlessly discussing it, except on a few forums.
We don’t seem to be doing too badly.
It would help the EU and us to work together on some matters such as defence and sharing information.
David Cameron was trying to put the UK first all those years ago ( and I’m no fan!) when he tried to get a better deal for us from the EU.They dismissed him and what he asked for so got Brexit, which proves how short sighted the EU officials were.

Freya5

MayBee70

escaped

MayBee70

I think Keir has been building bridges with Europe for a long time. Foreign leaders must find him a breath of fresh air to deal with after that last few PM’s we’ve had.

I agree that KS has been working hard on this issue.
But don't go thinking France in particular is anywhere near giving advantages to the UK in areas of defence and fishing. The French newspapers report that Macron & Co will play hard ball on any issues involving this process. Starmer will have his work cut out, I wish him well in this, but I'm not sure it's a priority for other European leaders.

Good for Macron and France. That's how it should be.It shows that EU countries have always been able to put their own countries first, though.

Yet when people want to put British interests ahead of the EU, names are called. What hypocrisy.

No. It shows that we could have remained in the EU without losing our sovereignty or national values.

👏 good point MayBee.

A little more on the Ukraine, as Starmer and other European leaders were in Kiev this morning with Zelensky, and it's a top security/defence spending issue. It included a long telephone conversation with Trump.

They agreed to put forward Saturday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire from 12 May (with the backing of Trump)

threatening president Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply

The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said arms deliveries from Ukraine’s allies would have to stop before Russia would agree to a ceasefire. However, there is no suggestion they will stop producing their own arms supplies during this time.

So discussions are now taking place about possible further sanctions on Russia.

Trump needs to be much more hardline in his dealings with Putin.

What would you like to see him do?

Yes indeed, Oreo !

what a change from bessie mate and portrait time, eh?

Whatever the claimed Brexit stance of Reform I doubt all those who voted Reform are against a closer relationship with the EU for defence and to maximise the benefits of trade with such an important nearby market. Political parties are broad churches and not every Reform voter wants to shoot the UK in the foot again.

MayBee70

Cossy

Whitewavemark2

I also think that we need to look at this as a process rather than a once and for all.

The U.K. will not in the near future become an EU member, (never say never though). Rather, it will work towards closer union, in order to facilitate greater and easier trade for our businesses.

The comments about France and the EUs lack of interest is self evident if you think about it. But, the U.K. will no doubt begin to once again play a bigger part in the EU than it has of recent years.

We can only hope!

I do not regret voting Labour, I think some have extremely short memories.

Am I satisfied and happy with all of their actions? Absolutely not ! Would I vote Labour again? Absolutely yes!

I’m waiting to see the results of their actions across the next 12 months.

I’ll never forgive Cameron or Farsge for the mess we call Brexit and I wouldn’t vote Reform if they were the only party available.

What Reform voters don't seem to realise [and I'm only saying this because I've now heard it backed up by someone else along with someone who worked with Farage] is that he has no ambition to be PM as he likes campaigning not the end result of it if he wins. They seem to think that their hero will become PM one day and lead us into the land of milk and honey.

Farage sort of reminds me of Jeremy Corbyn, another politician who loved preaching to the converted, suddenly becoming a big I am after decades of being an outsider, but was more of a campaigner than someone who really wanted to be PM. Like dear old Jezza, Farage is currently going through his golden era where he's always in the news and did better than expected in an election, but like Corbyn, could start to see everything unravel as people see he's not PM material.

I think you’re right Cumbrianmale56. People look politically for a knight on a white charger, to give them the future they dream of, but knights prove to be fantasies when they can’t deliver. Often it’s better to stick with good old Mr or Mrs Dull but Sensible who will ultimately get further. It’s a hard lesson in life.

Corbyn was just the sort of MP that was needed on the back benches. A Jiminy Cricket who was there to remind Labour what they stood for. He should never have become leader of the party and Margaret Beckett regretted putting him forward in the leadership election. However there’s no comparison with Farage as Corbyn is a good, decent person who cares about others. What I have been told is that Farage is actually really good to deal with and work for, which surprised me. If only he put his talent of communication to good use.

I think the big players in the EU would be pleased to have the UK's involvement and support back. I think KS is probably the right person to put forward a reasoned argument for the UK to rejoin. He appears calm and sensible.
My concern would be that KS isn't the type to dig his heels in and refuse to compromise. He would need to clearly demand something very big in exchange from the EU members. Has he got the mettle for a very big fight, and has he the right personality for this? Would he just get browbeaten and come out as mincemeat? I don't know.

Casdon, I am surprised how many Grans seek "a knight on a white charger".

Morality should be a force in politics . More socialist parties - Labour , Lib Dem ,or Green -are the most moral.

So Putin is talking about a ceasefire and talks with Ukraine on Thursday.

Would this have anything to do with the EU and USA joining forces through the auspices of Starmer one wonders. Or just a coincidence? 🤔

I would like to think that it shows what can be achieved when countries cooperate to achieve peace.

Whitewavemark2

I would like to think that it shows what can be achieved when countries cooperate to achieve peace.

Yes, this is what some don't understand- unity is strength!

twinnytwin

Reporting on BBC this morning that a poll shows almost 1/3 of Labour voters regret voting for them in the 2024 election.

If they can change their minds after so little time they may well change it again. Very mercurial behaviour may well be part of the nature of a smaĺl percentage of voters. It's too soon to think it relevant.

Oreo

Trump needs to be much more hardline in his dealings with Putin.

He does, but will he?

PoliticsNerd

twinnytwin

Reporting on BBC this morning that a poll shows almost 1/3 of Labour voters regret voting for them in the 2024 election.

If they can change their minds after so little time they may well change it again. Very mercurial behaviour may well be part of the nature of a smaĺl percentage of voters. It's too soon to think it relevant.

That certainly proved to be true in both Canada and Australia this time round.

A show off politician whose personal charisma attracts voters is not a good choice, except in the case of Churchill in wartime.

Clement Attlee was a small man with a modest appearance and manner .

"Clement Attlee's most significant contributions during his time as Prime Minister (1945-1951) included the establishment of the National Health Service, the expansion of the welfare state, and the nationalization of key industries. He also oversaw the decolonization of several British colonies, including India, Pakistan, Burma, and Ceylon.
Welfare State Expansion:
National Health Service (NHS): The NHS was a landmark achievement, providing free universal healthcare to all British citizens.
National Insurance Act: This act provided sickness, unemployment, and retirement benefits for adults.
Family Allowances: Parents received weekly payments upon the birth of their second child.
Nationalization of Key Industries:
The Attlee government nationalized major sectors of the economy, including banking, gas, electricity, coal, and transport.
Decolonization:
Attlee's government oversaw the transfer of power to India and Pakistan, as well as other British colonies like Burma and Ceylon.
History of Clement Attlee - GOV.UK
Clement Attlee was leader of the Labour Party from 1935 to 1955, and served as Britain's Prime Minister from 1945 to 1951. As Prim...

GOV.UK

Attlee's Britain 1945-1951 - The National Archives

The National Archives

Attlee ministry - Wikipedia
The Attlee government greatly expanded the welfare state, with the National Health Service Act 1946, which nationalised the hospit...

Wikipedia

Show all"(Regret no quotation facility)

Freya5

Oh yes, they were called little Englanders come to mind. From many of you on here. Brexit was handled appallingly, we had leaders who did not want us to leave, and were shocked by the outcome. So they did very little to put Britain first. Yet here you are celebrating the fact the France etc put their country first. Shall we call them little Frenchies??

In this post the writers doesn't seem to recognise their own political bias.

Also

Little Englanders: British informal. a person who perceives most foreign influences on Britain's culture and institutions as damaging or insidious.

This is true of many who voted Brexit and the reason such people approve of Trump as he shows the same characteristics. He is an American who perceives most foreign influences on America's culture and institutions as damaging or insidious.

Morality should be a force in politics . More socialist parties - Labour , Lib Dem ,or Green -are the most moral.

I think that a great many people are struggling to find any 'morality' in the actions of the current Labour government. Morality might exist at constituency and individual member level, even among some Labour MPs, but it doesn't have the high profile that government actions do.

Too sweeping a statement I think.

Whitewavemark2

I would like to think that it shows what can be achieved when countries cooperate to achieve peace.

Which is what the EU was initially founded upon?

MayBee70

Whitewavemark2

I would like to think that it shows what can be achieved when countries cooperate to achieve peace.

Which is what the EU was initially founded upon?

Exactly😊