Keir Starmer has clearly decided that the only way to disagree with Donald Trump and his administration without angering the US President is to make statements that contradict him without ever mentioning him or J.D. Vance by name. Today he opened Prime Minister’s Questions by paying tribute to six young British soldiers who were killed 13 years ago tomorrow in Afghanistan, and a soldier who was killed 18 years ago today in Helmand. He added:
These men fought and died for their country, our country, and across the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, 643 individuals died fighting for Britain alongside our allies. Many more were wounded. We will never forget their bravery and their sacrifice, and I know the whole House will join with me in remembering them and all those who serve our country.
Starmer was, of course, offering these tributes as a response to Vance’s criticism of ‘some random country that has not fought a war in 30 or 40 years’.
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