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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Marina Hyde

Britain’s war hawks are very upset that Keir Starmer isn’t personally riding a bomb all the way to Tehran

Donald Trump and Keir Starmer at Chequers, 18 September 2025.
Donald Trump and Keir Starmer at Chequers, 18 September 2025. Photograph: Leon Neal/AP

Have you heard enough pant-wetting about Britain’s “reputation” this week? Honestly, I don’t think any of us can bear the social embarrassment of not getting immediately involved in an obviously disastrous war in the Middle East. The awks of it. How will good old Britannia hold her head up high if she isn’t an instant ride-or-die for a US administration described by a former senior Nato commander as “gung-ho nutters” with “no clear understanding of how this thing is going to end”? You should be simply unable to stand it. You should have Middle East-catastrophe Fomo.

Opposition party leaders and politicians seem genuinely excruciated by the fact that Earth’s pettiest man, Donald Trump, sniffed earlier this week of Keir Starmer: “This is not Winston Churchill we’re dealing with.” Boo-hoo for you, pal. We’re having to deal with the Cheeto FDR, so everyone’s making sacrifices.

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