Newspaper Column – The Cornishman – 19/01/25

• Do we really want to live in a “might is right” world? Or one where we jointly agree and then respect international law; not just when it suits us? 

Trump’s invasion and ‘take over” of Venezuela telegraphs to Putin and Xi there are no principles which would prevent them from acting in the same way. After all, why invade and take over one “rogue state” you disagree with (or fancy the resources of) and not any of the many others?  

Venezuela today. Why would not Trump take Greenland tomorrow? Then where does that leave NATO? Putin will be rubbing his hands in delight. 

It’s not just the leaders of right and far-right parties in this country who applaud the US president. Starmer has chosen to adopt a policy of studied obsequiousness. He seems to (correctly of course) recognise Trump as the archetypal spoilt child in charge of the biggest candy shop, but to also believe the best way of protecting the UK’s and the wider world’s interests is to not upset him.  

So begins a new era which will revert to old-fashioned gunboat diplomacy. A world where the strong and powerful have the liberty to dominate, bully and dictate to the small and weak. A world where national resources will be switched from health, education, social security and improving quality of life to ensure every nation is independently armed to the teeth, while the idealism of a rules-based world order and mutual support through NATO slides into history books.  

Or the world could collectively ensure Trump experiences diplomatic isolation and is not appeased. 

 

• I’ll meet local government Minister, Alison McGovern, next week following questions I raised in the House about the 3-year funding settlements for Cornwall and for the Isles of Scilly. A “bespoke” funding settlement has been promised for the Isles of Scilly, but, according to the Council, the future looks more challenging than ever. I also hope we can iron out the options for Cornwall’s entitlement to bid for funds under the government’s devolution agenda. 

The government’s decision to set indicative budgets for the two years following the 2026/7 settlement will help future budget setting. Overall, Councils have been assured they should be in a better situation year-on-year, after a decade of austerity that the Conservatives subjected Cornwall to since 2015. However, though government supporting MPs presented this as a bonanza on the way to a land of milk and honey, the reality seems less encouraging. Both councils still face difficult decisions if they are to protect budgets and maintain services. 

It must be remembered that Cornwall is the poorest region in the country and can therefore make the strongest case for enhanced central funding to reflect its high level of need. We also have an enormous gap to fill after a decade of cuts. The actual settlement is around 4.5% increase from 2025/26–20 28/29. Not the 27% uplift claimed by Government supporters!