Quote Originally Posted by Omegstrat6 View Post
Afternoon Al, hope you are well

If Starmer is not considering helping to defend the strait, then I would certainly disagree with that decision but my impression is that he has said that he will defend UK interests and that this includes helping to keep the Strait open, shipping moving and consequently ease the pressure on oil prices. The issues are -as raised earlier-1) that we embarrassingly lack the ships to send in the first place and 2) that escort vessels alone are unlikely to be able to protect such slow moving tankers from drone attacks. If it were as easy as Trump suggests, the US Navy would surely have already done it. The current delay, I believe, is in consulting how to best achieve the objective on keeping the Strait open.

As for fuel duty, of course the governments needs as much revenue as they can get, but totally agree with you that to continue with the planned increase at this point is wrong and will hit many. As you say, another U-turn ahead?

Regarding the UK's relationship with the US, whilst Trump has certainly caused tensions between the two, that relationship is surely too long standing to end and intelligence sharing and military co-operation and support will very likely continue. The US is clearly the "bigger" partner, but to end the relationship would benefit neither. I genuinely think that many-likely on both sides-are waiting for Trump to leave office and for some course of normality to resume!.

You're dead right about Hungary. Trump isn't the only divisive factor in NATO. Obran is a conservative and a Eurosceptic who pleased Russia and angered his NATO partners with his stance against Ukraine. Makes you wonder why the country is even a member of the alliance but, as with the US, this may be more down to their current leader than anything else.

Hungary relies heavily on Russian gas and oil as well as trade and Obran is close to Putin. But Obran is also currently trying to cozy up to Trump. Many of Obran's conservative beliefs match up with those of Trump's MAGA supporters and the Toddler in Chief praises Obran in return. Obran is currently facing stiffer opposition at home from the more liberal Tisza party but with Putin behind him, helping to engineer the election, I cannot see him not being re-elected again.
Good thanks Omeg! We need a win tomorrow mate!

Will it be a stitch up with Trump doing another term? Never say never 😭

See the top chap Hewitt at Border Force has left today after 18 months with absolute chaos with small boats. Illegal immigration needs massively sorting!!?