There is a certain art in representing a country on the world stage, and another entirely in learning how to so spectacularly humiliate it. Soon our hapless Prime Minister will dispatch his defence secretary - the newest one, Dan Jarvis - off to meet his peers at NATO. But Mr Jarvis will be the representative of a military that is greatly reduced, and yet plunged into the limelight again following the shocking resignations of his predecessors over the government's inability to act on that reduction.
Dan Jarvis' job is not one that any of us should envy. Indeed, we should pity the man who has been sent to the front of this farce. Just days ago, a Russian warship fired a 'warning shot' at a British civilian vessel. By all accounts, the retirees sailing her, Jane and Alan Kelvey, had more fight in them than half of this Government.
Perhaps we should send them to NATO? Andy Burnham bombshell as he's reported to police on eve of key Makerfield by-election Keir Starmer's Labour accused of changing voting system to stop Reform winning Manchester Sir Keir likes to trumpet his international statesman credentials. No sooner had he stepped into No10 than it seemed he was out again - globetrotting and saving the world.
Now, he faces the growing realisation that smoothly-spoken words at glossy conferences amount to little when you've nothing to back them up with. Therein lies an irony. Sir Keir now seems very keen on staying in No10, even as his own inability to give our forces the money they so clearly need threatens to see him cast out of it.
And while he is unable to fund our fight against threats abroad, Sir Keir is more than willing to throw his effort at staving off threats at home. In the North, his great challenger rises, set to march on London should he secure the Makerfield by-election win.
Dan Jarvis (Image: Getty) Already, Sir Keir is throwing job offers at Andy Burnham and mounting a passionate defence of his 'record' here at home. Perhaps that is why he will dispatch Dan Jarvis to his NATO love-in? That way, it can be Mr Jarvis who has to explain to our allies that, in the modern day, the United Kingdom is all talk and no action when it comes to global security.
Now we face the tragic circumstance whereby Sir Keir is about to not only face humiliation at home, but also overseas, and finally complete the long march toward total defeat by not only his government, but also our nation's standing in the world. Sir Keir can focus on staving off his rivals at home. Dan Jarvis can try and explain to our allies abroad that this time, Britain might just leave them to it.
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