Labour's Dame Emily Thornberry has launched a scathing attack on former US President Donald Trump, branding him a "bully" while praising Prime Minister Keir Starmer's diplomatic approach to maintaining the crucial UK-US relationship.
Trump's NATO Comments Branded 'Absolute Insult'
In a powerful intervention, the Chair of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee described Trump's recent claims about NATO allies as particularly shocking. "His claim that NATO allies like the UK had 'stayed back' from the frontlines is not just 'a mistake'," Thornberry wrote. "It is an absolute insult. An insult to the 457 British families who lost someone in Afghanistan. An insult to the many more injured, who live with the physical or mental scars of war."
Historical Context of NATO's Article 5
The Labour MP provided crucial historical context, noting that NATO's Article 5 - which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all - has only been invoked once in the alliance's 76-year history. "It was triggered by the US following the devastating attacks on 9/11," she explained. "And when the US called for help, the very nations Trump now says would never come to the US's side did exactly that. Britain answered the call. France answered the call. Denmark answered the call."
Thornberry highlighted that Denmark actually lost more soldiers per capita than any other NATO country during the Afghanistan conflict, making Trump's comments particularly galling. "It is frankly shocking that the Commander in Chief of the United States does not know how the US has been defended," she added.
Starmer's Diplomatic Approach Praised
While condemning Trump's behaviour, Thornberry offered strong praise for Prime Minister Keir Starmer's handling of the situation. "Through all of Trump's threats and reckless behaviour, I have been proud to see our Prime Minister united with our allies to say no," she wrote. "To link arms with nations and say enough. To say: you can't just take Greenland, and you can't just threaten tariffs to get your way, you can't breach international law."
Maintaining the Special Relationship
The Labour MP acknowledged calls from some quarters to distance Britain from the United States but argued Starmer had found a better path. "The Prime Minister is proving you can stand up to Trump without wrecking the relationship between the two nations," she stated. "What's more, it is also important to remember that our relationship with the US goes beyond whoever happens to currently inhabit the White House. The Special Relationship will survive the next three years."
Broader Concerns About Social Media Threats
Beyond the immediate diplomatic concerns, Thornberry raised alarm about foreign disinformation campaigns on social media platforms. "I've spent the past year looking into foreign disinformation, and it is clear to me that social media companies are either unable or unwilling to protect their platforms from being abused by foreign powers," she warned.
The MP cited the example of "1,300 X accounts purporting to be Scottish Nationalists that mysteriously go silent every time the internet in Iran is shut off" as evidence of coordinated foreign interference. "Foreign powers are spreading lies through social media in order to undermine our democracy," she cautioned, "and with elections across the country coming up, we must protect ourselves."
Local Hero and Policy Progress
In a lighter note, Thornberry celebrated local activism, congratulating "canvassing hero" Alistair Harper from Highbury who broke into a flat to save an elderly lady who had fallen down stairs while out campaigning.
She also welcomed government progress on social policies, particularly the expansion of breakfast clubs in schools. "No child should go to school hungry," Thornberry emphasised. "It's wrong and makes it harder to learn, limiting their potential. That's why I'm so pleased to see the Government is introducing even more breakfast clubs. And soon, schools in every corner of England will have one, saving families up to £450 a year."
The Labour MP concluded by reflecting on the resilience of both domestic communities and international alliances, suggesting that despite current challenges, both local activism and the UK's most important international relationship would endure through difficult times.
