Well you gotta give him his due—Donald Trump pulled it off yesterday. I thought the meeting with all those heads of state from Europe, including the head of NATO and Angela von der Leyen, the head of the EU, went better than expected.
The German defense minister was also present, and Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, who Trump really seems to like. He even showed a kind of grudging respect for Macron.
As for Starmer, he sat at the end of the table like a naughty schoolboy, looking totally out of place. The man has no gravitas, and that becomes obvious whenever he gives a speech. Back here in the UK, we all think it’s a bloody joke—as we do with the Labour Party.
They’ve been in power now for over a year, and how have things gone? Inflation, when it comes out next month, will likely be quite high.
The triple lock will go up substantially, but it’ll push pensioners into the lower tax bracket, meaning they’ll end up paying tax. That’s a sneaky way for the government to promise the triple lock while still making pensioners pay for it.
I’m already paying taxes. I just received one of my small pensions, and I lose a substantial amount of it in tax. Last month, I even got a requirement from HMRC because I had underpaid last year—and the letters are nasty
They re like council letters demanding rates: pay within so many days or we’ll take you to court. And they mean it. Meanwhile, of course, they need the money to pay for illegal migrants living in luxury hotels. I exaggerate, but still—it’s at our expense.
Trump’s Rapport and Ukraine’s Reality
The meeting itself went well. Even Zelensky’s suit looked sharp, a big improvement compared to February’s disastrous appearance. A reporter even complimented him on it this time. There was no question—Trump created a better rapport. Credit where it’s due.
Like him or not, Trump is president of the United States, balancing international affairs with domestic issues. He even floated the idea of U.S.
and Russia have thousands of nuclear weapons, enough to terrify anyone about the future.
NATO, Guarantees, and Historical Echoes
The Nordic countries have done well, strengthening their defenses and becoming a powerful force within NATO. But Ukraine isn’t part of NATO, so Article 5 can’t be activated. Despite agreements like the Budapest Memorandum, the West has largely turned its back on Ukraine.
It reminds me of the line from The Battle of Britain: “Hitler’s guarantees guarantee nothing.” Last time a corporal tried to cross the Channel, look what happened. A wonderful film, one I wish they would remake with modern CGI.
Domestic Concerns and NHS Pressure
At home, there’s another issue: the UK accepting hundreds of injured and sick children from Gaza. My heart goes out to them, but the NHS is already overwhelmed.
We have people waiting years for surgery, while these new arrivals will get priority. Why don’t wealthy Arab states like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, or the UAE—who have world-class hospitals—take them in? Their facilities are incredible, so why is it always left to us?
A Lighter Note
On a different subject, Australia won the first test match after a rough start. Their comeback made me smile. Now it’s time for brunch and to take Hector out for his morning walk. He sleeps in later and later these days, much like myself.
It’s a cooler, dull Tuesday morning with no rain in sight—though desperately needed. Thank you all very much, take care of yourselves, and have a wonderful day.
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