Philip Webster

So so proud of Rebecca who will bring warmth, wisdom and superb judgment to one of the jewels in the @BBCNews crown. Beaming as a husband, delighted as a colleague

My monologue on The Times at One with Andrew Neil on @TimesRadio on Trump’s War: Donald Trump woke up this morning to tell Britain to open the Strait of Hormuz without US help and to ‘start learning how to fight’ for ourselves because America ‘won’t be there to help you.’   Well, we learned how to do that in 1940, Mr President, when your country was nowhere to be seen and only Britain stood with its Commonwealth allies to defend civilisation against the greatest evil the world has ever seen.  For those of you wondering if the Atlantic Alliance still has a future, you can stop wondering. As long as Trump is in the White House clearly it doesn’t.  Meanwhile Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio is impatient with media criticism that the aims of Trump’s War are confusing and uncertain. So yesterday on American TV he helpfully listed them. Write them down, he advised, implying this was the definitive list. So I did: 1. The destruction of Iran’s air force 2. The destruction of their navy 3. The severe diminishing of their missile launching capability 4. The destruction of their factories Which is clear enough — except that it’s not the list with which President Trump started the war. That list clearly included regime change and the end of Iran’s ability to develop nukes.  They didn’t make Secretary Rubio’s list. Nor did the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.  There is further cause for concern. IF Rubio’s list is now the definitive one, then Trump could claim war aims achieved, victory declared even with Iran still in control of the Strait of Hormuz, still able to develop a nuclear arsenal.  Not quite the victory anybody envisaged.  Yet that may well be the route we’re now going down. Late last night in Washington we discovered that Mr Trump was telling aides he WAS prepared to end the war even if the Strait of Hormuz was still closed.  That opening it would prolong the war beyond his deadline. That it was up to the Europeans and the Gulf States to take the lead in opening it because they needed it more than America.  Well, thanks a lot Donald. You start a war without consulting your allies, you change your war aims more often than Keir Starmer performs U-turns and now you talk of ending it, leaving us to hold the baby. Just great.  This matters. Because the longer the Strait of Hormuz is closed the more the global economy faces something close to catastrophe. 1/2

Anyone watching BBC I Player drama at moment knows what Correction is. But leading 6 o’clock news and every bulletin with the sacking of a Radio 2 DJ seems like an Over Correction. There is a war on

@LobbyXI @matt_dathan @kiranstacey Although Norwich have found a good ‘un in M Clement!

Sorry to disappoint, @Pwebstertimes, but we still have full faith in our joint gaffers! 😉 @matt_dathan @kiranstacey

@LobbyXI @matt_dathan @kiranstacey I wait by the phone ….. 🤣

@TomBaldwin66 @TheAthleticFC I think he was hoping to sneak into Carrow Road as well but can you imagine Delia allowing that ? See Times Diary today - distaste for this stunt has united Ipswich and Norwich - very much a first and only temporary !! Key match coming up

@TheAthleticFC Looks like Ipswich bought into the media story that Farage is vet popular and will be next PM. Neither is true. Awful PR failure.

The chairman and chief executive of Ipswich Town has apologised “unreservedly” for the “hurt, pain and frustration” caused by a visit to the club’s stadium from right-wing politician Nigel Farage. In a video published on the club’s website, Mark Ashton said Ipswich had “lessons to learn” from the episode, and revealed their board of directors were currently in the process of reviewing their policy towards politicians and political parties. 🔗 nyti.ms/41jeDUp

If Labour thinks Starmer has had tough time with “Conservative” press it would be many times worse for Rayner. Stamp duty, home in Hove and constituency in north, immigration floodgates claims - all will be considered fair game.

Alex you can’t think this is funny, funny? I admit I laughed but only at the total awfulness of words coming from the leader of the free world ? I hope that’s what you meant or I’ve missed something

Trump’s thin understanding of post war history has been pretty obvious in last weeks. today he trumped himself by sitting with the Japanese pm and reminding her of Pearl Harbour and Japan’s failure to give advance notice. And some posts here seem to think that was brilliant

Not sure Trump would appreciate this but there are different obligations on a prime minister than a president.

You both stars. Well done to my old lunch partner !

Notable but unsurprising that in six questions Badenoch did not quote Trumps attack on Starmer.

Starmer is the least liked British PM in recent history but I think Brits will also have a distaste for politicians or commentators who gleefully side with Trump against Britain’s right to make its own decisions.

Dan right about polls. I’m sure Starmer admires what Churchill did but I’m equally sure he won’t mind not being compared to him . A compliment from Trump is worth nothing in Britain. A rather confused insult is probably worth a lot

Trump obviously trying to boost Starmer ratings

@charlie_cairoli I did Charlie and I don’t think it’s a misread. But hats off if you turn out to be right

@Pwebstertimes Christ, this is an awful misread. You did this for a living????

Starmer has been granted an issue where his stance will be shown to be much closer to where the public is than Badenoch or Farage who would give Trump unquestioning backing on Iran

@BSaundersSport Correct. Interesting subject tho But if I could get odds I would bet that Lab and Tories will be two largest parties at next election more than 3 years away. Bookies not at all generous on this sadly. They like me have seen it before and need convincing.

@Pwebstertimes Were Labour or the Tories not in the top two parties in either of those byelections?

Because we are in EXACTLY the same circumstances we were 45 years ago, silly!

@AnnMile71721158 @TeresaC123 No I think granted it by mr trump

@Pwebstertimes @TeresaC123 Well he has made the issue rather than been granted it I think.