Baghdad on the Azov

In keeping with the mainland's ambition to bestride the Atlantic as a bridge between helping Ukraine and not helping Ukraine, the CEO of Team Starmer has pledged to work towards a settlement that will satisfy the United States, even if it involves the appearance of collaborating with the beastly French. A clue to Britain's likely role may perhaps be found in the great man's use of the term "coalition of the willing" - the sobriquet of those plucky little powers who joined the Bush chimpanzee in freedomising the Middle East from the scourge of Islamic fundamentalist violence. The beastly French opted to sit out that particular crusade, while the heirs of Mr Churchill waded in with gusto under the spiritual guidance of Team Starmer's patron saint, the blessings of whose success are on all our heads to this day. It remains to be seen whether the Reverend Blair's godson-in-truth will be able to induce the wavering Euro-wogs towards making a similar triumph of Ukraine.