It’s been a great week for Keir Starmer

He was tested from Washington to Westminster.

The special relationship is on the ropes. A statement which, in times gone by, would seldom be interpreted as good news.

Any previous quabbles between the UK and the USA have ordinarily been squashed by empty, jargon-filled statements or political silence, in an effort by both Western superpowers to save face, and maintain a healthy, strong, “special” relationship that — as we know it — has been in place since the end of the Second World War.

But times have changed, and so has global strategy. There has been ample talk in the media of a gradual fall of the current “world order”, and that society and global norms are inching ever closer to a state of pre-WW2 instability and uncertainty. The descent into disorder has hidden in plain sight, and only in recent months has sunk to depths that very few saw coming.

And it’s all thanks to one man: Donald Trump.

In 2026 alone, the US President; initiated a military operation on a sovereign state, abducting its president and his wife, caused widespread panic and protest in response to the murders of two US citizens and the abduction of a toddler by ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement), and repeatedly threatened to annex Greenland, by almost any means necessary.

Since the end of the Second World War, covertly staging coups and acting as puppeteers in civil wars is nothing out of the ordinary for the States, but the sheer audacity of Trump to publicly play the part of a tyrannous villain has brought us into unprecedented territory.

Sir Keir won’t yield

Starmer is famously and undoubtedly unpopular. He’s seen as square and boring, socially awkward and embarrassing, not least as a result of previous incidents with Trump. But in a week where he could’ve rolled over and let the US President make those threats about Greenland a reality, Starmer pushed back. He showed him that the notion of the “special relationship” isn’t an umbrella he can shelter beneath whenever his so stereotypical, outrageous comments inevitably spark a shitstorm.

Dubbed by the media as “the week Europe fought back”, NATO members have diplomatically forced the US to back down on their intentions to take Greenland.

For how long is yet to be determined.

“I will not yield. Britain will not yield on our principles and values about the future of Greenland, under threats of tariffs. That is my clear position.”

The Prime Minister repeatedly stated that he “will not yield” to Trump and his demands, and even called out the President on his stereotypical backtracking regarding the Chagos deal.

“President Trump deployed words on Chagos yesterday, that were different to his previous words of welcome and support when I met him in the White House. He deployed those words yesterday for the express purpose of putting pressure on me and Britain, in relation to my values of principles on the future of Greenland. He wants me to yield on my position, and I’m not going to do so.”

In the same session, he described the Green Party as “high on drugs, soft on Putin.” A corker of a line, which came a week after he criticised the Tories intense reshuffling, describing them as having “more positions than the karma sutra.”

His speechwriter needs a pay rise.

Trump’s response

On Friday, Trump indirectly hit back. In an interview with Fox News while discussing NATO, he trivialised the involvement of British troops in Afghanistan, insulting not only Starmer, but the United Kingdom as a whole.

“They’ll say they sent some troops to Afghanistan, which they did. But, they stayed a little back… a little off the front lines.”

The absolute temerity of a five-time Vietnam draft-dodger to undermine the role that Britain played during that particular phase of America’s War on Terror infuriated the nation.

And again, Starmer spoke up. He called the comments “insulting and frankly appalling”.

He was right to do so, given that 457 British troops died in Afghanistan, with many more sustaining injuries, and even more suffering with symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Yet, the most striking thing about the interview was the tone. Trump spoke as if the US had won the war in Afghanistan, but it was America’s botched withdrawal in 2021 that subsequently resulted in the Taliban taking control of the nation almost straight after - a withdrawal which put millions of Afghan lives in immediate danger, and left soldiers who had served wondering what they even fought for.

In typical Trump style, he didn’t quite apologise for his comments, but he did completely backtrack:

We need to talk about Burnham

As if standing up to Trump twice and making the highlight reel for the latest montage of “PMQs Best Moments” wasn’t eventful enough, Sir Keir will have no doubt finished off the week with worrying anticipation regarding his future, as big news broke from a little constituency in Greater Manchester.

Andrew Reddish, the Labour candidate who was sworn in as the member of parliament for Gorton and Denton in 2024, with over 50% of the vote, submitted his resignation.

He had been suspended from the party some eleven months earlier due to some leaked, incriminating WhatsApp messages.

His resignation consequently triggers a by-election, and it didn’t take long for media speculation to become tangible, as Andy Burnham, the Labour mayor for Greater Manchester, announced his desire to stand.

There had been talk of Burnham perhaps attempting to pave the way for a leadership bid back in September last year, after a poll found that 62% of Labour Party members would prefer Burnham to be PM over Starmer.

Burnham, nicknamed “The King of the North”, who has had two unsuccessful leadership campaigns, played down the talk at the time, and in his announcement to stand in the Gorton and Denton by-election, stressed that he would not “undermine” the government.

However, before being able to have his name on the ballot paper, he would need approval from the national executive committee - the Labour Party’s governing body.

Today, his application was rejected.

In an eight-to-one strong vote, the ten members of the NEC voted to block Burnham’s attempts at re-election to the House of Commons, with one abstaining.

The NEC stated that it “believes that causing an unnecessary election for the position of Greater Manchester mayor would have a substantial and disproportionate impact”. They’re right to think so, particularly with the local elections looming in May, and Reform polling higher than ever.

The second to last thing they’d want is to lose the Mayoral election to a Reform candidate, but the last thing they’d want is a Labour leadership election. Alas, one can’t help but wonder if there’s more to their decision that they’re letting on.

One thing’s for sure, though - it’s been a great week for Keir Starmer, who has seemingly had everything go his way.

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