The Not-So-Special Relationship

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A few weeks ago, after the invasion of Venezuala but before the War in Iran, my wife and I had a fairly bleak conversation about which UK party leader should be Prime Minister if World War III broke out.

Despite my wife's confusion, I argued that current Prime Minister Keir Starmer (versus all other current party leaders) would be the most effective wartime PM right now.

I argued that even though he has demonstrated a stubbornness and a conviction to his own judgment that has almost forced him out of office, it is these traits which provide the bedrock to the resilient, dogged determination and authoritative decision-making that defines some of the greatest wartime leaders.

His approach is also exceptionally academic. He diligently reads briefing notes and bases his decisions on logic, reason, and law. By extension, he sees his job not as a sleeves up worker bee, stuck in the thick of it, but as a delegator - responsible for hiring the right people in the right roles, so he gets the right information to make the right decisions.

This is - as we've seen - a high risk strategy, dependent on surrounding himself with those he can trust, and those who trust him. And trust is fragile in politics.

Day to day, this creates an endless parade of challenges for Starmer that feel so avoidable, were he just to be a little more like Winston Churchill.

But Starmer is not Winston Churchill. He is not a natural leader, but a lawyer. He is trained neither to inspire nor motivate, but to debate and persuade. The former is far sexier, and Churchill understood this, particularly during a time of war.

Admittedly, Starmer lacks the charisma of Churchill or the storytelling prowess of Abraham Lincoln, and his ability to inspire a nation during times of imminent peril is questionable. This is a man who clearly takes great pride in his studious approach to decision-making, and his refusal to get sucked into the media circus constantly swirling around politics, desperate for a soundbite, a headline, and an angle.

This should not be underestimated.

Our big story this week is Markwayne Mullin who, by the time you read this, will likely be confirmed as the new Secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. We discuss what the DHS actually does, why it matters, and what we can expect from Kristi Noem’s outspoken replacement.

Also in the news:

Is it really possible to create a truly equal, fair, cross-partisan, people-led electoral system? Listen to the full interview and find out more on this week’s In the Making.

Our guest co-host this week is Emma Long, an Associate Professor in American History and Politics at the University of East Anglia and friend of the podcast.

Full episode coming today.

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If you could amend the US Constitution, what would you do?

This is your chance to make the American Constitution greater - from the serious to the silly and the absurd, you have the power to enshrine a new amendment, so what would it be?

From age limits on the Presidency to restrictions on war powers, or perhaps you just want Morgan Freeman to be constitutionally required to read the weather.

The power is in your hands.

The British Association for American Studies was founded in 1955. It exists to promote, support and encourage the study of the United States in the Universities, Colleges and Schools of the United Kingdom, and by independent scholars.

The association has a broad membership and encourages those from all those engaged in or connected with the study of the United States, to join and support the association’s work.