Daily Mail blames Starmer for lack of defense spending! The spending has remained reasonably constant over past 15 years although down since Tories took office in 2010! And which magic money tree does it suggest to get greater spending? Farmers? OAP’s?
The question as to how to pay for Defence is the event of USA isolationism remains. Putin (like Trump) is an unapologenic expansionist. Europe needs defending from not just Putin but the American right! Vance made a blatant speech to support the right in Europe. Budgets across. the board are tight. Wheeling out some ageing retired general is pointless and boring (and so old hat!).
I am now going to say something controversial – sales of poppies for 11 Nov remain high – the number of ex-soldiers will,if not yet, soon fall rapidly. I find charities rather daunting! If there is a need in society, then surely the state should provide. There are 165000-170000 charities in UK! School PTA’s and children’s charities are a stain on civil society. Animal charities I have more sympathy with – they have no natural funding via Income Tax or VAT on nuts! I bet the rich love that they support charities – I bet their ego’s love it. Support the nurses who give their all 24/7. Food banks should never be necessary. I am thinking here! the RNLI is a charity which if government run would probably have left people to drown in the past – so should there be exceptions? Are charities more efficient without a bureacracy above them, but they would not need fund raisers!
Putting restrictions on social media would be unpopular but sensible. I am sure the techies could come up with something!
Little has been said about Iran in this ferment! Locationally a buffer to Russia, politically (WTF! ), socially and culturally an anaemia (whatever – I have no idea how to spell!). It is Israels enemy and apart from historic memories – maybe not dissimilar to Trump?