The first job of any government is to protect its public.
That requires having a robust defence strategy and working closely with international allies. But across Europe last week there was a stark realisation that the old guarantees could no longer be relied upon. The re-election of Donald Trump to the White House has brought a sudden end to security arrangements in Europe that have lasted since the end of World War II.
Trump’s administration wants the war in Ukraine to end and it expects Europeans to keep the peace. The US President seemingly isn’t bothered by the fact the war was caused by Russia invading another sovereign country. Instead, Putin will likely be able to claim huge swathes of Ukraine’s territory as its own.
European countries – the UK among them – must now wake up to this new reality. They simply cannot rely on the US to act as their defender of last resort. In the post-Cold War era, there was a steady diminishing of the size of the UK’s armed forces. Both Labour and Tory governments were content to cost-cut.
This cannot continue. The uncomfortable reality is we must now spend more on defence, not less. In an age of already huge pressure on public finances, this will be far from easy. Keir Starmer must be honest with voters on what is required, and why it is urgent. The UK and its neighbours cannot afford to sit back and wait the Trump era out. A new world has dawned.
Enforce vape ban
It’s alarming that children as young as 13 are being prescribed nicotine patches on the NHS as vape use continues to rocket.
Almost one in five Scots children under 18 has tried vaping and around 16 per cent have tried smoking. Campaigners have warned the nicotine industry is using promotions and advertising to lure the young into buying their products.
The UK will finally ban the sale and supply of single-use vapes, to protect children’s health and prevent environmental damage.
It is vital that the ban is robustly enforced. It took years of public health campaigning to get the message across to people on how harmful cigarettes are. That good work is in danger of being undone if vape use is allowed to continue at such a pace. Children should not be smoking in any circumstances.
Retailers must held responsible for ensuring vapes don’t fall into the wrong hands.