Political Fix Will Starmer sink or swim in Trump’s world?
Mar 7, 2025
Miranda Green, a Political Fix regular and Financial Times contributor, along with Robert Shrimsley, another FT columnist, and Felicia Schwartz, a U.S. foreign affairs correspondent, discuss the balancing act of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer amid Trump's influence. They analyze Starmer's diplomatic strategies regarding Ukraine, contrasting them with Macron's approach. The trio also tackles the complexities of post-Brexit diplomacy, the political fallout from military alliance statements, and the ongoing tensions between populism and patriotism in today's political climate.
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Mandelson's Stance on Ukraine
- Peter Mandelson, the new UK ambassador to the US, has publicly called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.
- This stance aligns with Trump's views, potentially indicating Mandelson is adapting to the political climate in Washington.
Current political landscape
- The US has cut off intelligence to Ukraine, and Vice President JD Vance mocked potential European peacekeeping forces.
- Zelensky praised Trump and agreed to a new minerals deal with the US, adding complexity to the situation.
Starmer's Performance and Uncertain Future
- While Starmer has performed well diplomatically, the long-term impact remains uncertain, as Trump's actions are unpredictable.
- British politics hasn't fully grasped the scale of change, particularly regarding defense spending increases.