Starmer and Musk Are At It Again!

As the end of the year approaches, Keir Starmer and Elon Musk are spatting again! What's their beef with each other this time? Musk said businesses do not want to invest in the UK. That is because under Keir Starmer's "current administration" (Musk's words) the climate is not right for investment. In a business meeting with investors in September Musk was not invited.

Sir Keir Starmer replied to Musk saying that since his premiership began 6 months ago, investors have helped the UK. A government spokesman backed up what the Prime Minister said.

Starmer and Musk clashed over the UK riots and the subsequent measures against rioters. Musk called Starmer a"Two-tier Keir" for imprisoning people online for making comments about the riots whilst releasing "Paedophiles". He also said the UK was descending into civil war as the riots occurred. Starmer's attitude was one of "Butt out Musk"!

How will Starmer's relationship with Donald Trump be affected? Donald Trump and Elon Musk are firm friends. Both are mavericks, billionaires, and unpredictable. Musk was always left of centre, however, he could not stomach some of the so-called woke ideas of Kamala Harris. Consequently, Musk put his support behind Trump. Did Musk help Trump win? That question will be asked many times by present and future historians.

Trump has given Musk a job in his incoming cabinet. Trump may have to appease Musk on one hand and maintain a working relationship with the British Prime Minister. Trump will have to play "Piggy in the middle".

On the surface all seems well and "Jim Dandy" between Trump and Starmer. This year Starmer and Trump met for lunch and all went well. Of course, any disagreement in their discourse will not be made known to the public. Unless any information has been or will be leaked.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Starmer may personally resent one another. However, leaders are meant to be Allies who must work with each other. Starmer and Trump are both backers of the Israeli regime. They can in principle agree on that. Both seem to be happy with the fall of Assad. Both seem to accept and back former Al Qaeda and IS operatives now in charge in Syria. Russia and Ukraine remain to be seen.

During the last UK Labour administration Blair got on with the Republican President George W Bush. Blair and Bush were brothers in arms in invading Afghanistan and Iraq. Churchill and Roosevelt were Allies during WW II. Harold Wilson refused to back the US in the 60s during the Vietnam War. Obama and Cameron got on until their relationship soured. So there is a tradition of the so-called "Special Relationship". A relationship where the US and the UK are close friends and Allies. The Wilson refusal to back the US over Vietnam was the only blip. Will Starmer and Trump be close or will they portray that they are for the media?

The Trump administration will take office after Trump's swearing-in ceremony. They will have discussed how they will get on with the Starmer administration in the UK. They will have discussed things they agree on and things they do not.

Likewise, the Starmer government will have taken measures on how they get on with Trump. Like the incoming Trump administration, Starmer's cabinet will have discussed what they agree on and what they do not.

How much the inclusion of Elon Musk in Trump's cabinet will influence US-UK relations will remain to be seen. Outwardly it may not affect that relationship too much it will be business as usual. That said, when you have Trump and Musk in government the only certainty is the uncertainty.