Peter Hitchens: Britain is no longer a great power

“British politicians seem to think that we’re still the great power, when we’re not.”
Peter Hitchens discusses UK strikes on Houthi rebels in Yemen and the Conservative Party’s electoral prospects on #TimesRadio.
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[@jameswhitfield1375]

Whether the Tories have a plan or not, and whether Labour has a plan or not, the truth of the matter is that the Tories have now been in office for 14 years. Surely, we are entitled to expect better than what they have delivered - and failed to deliver - in all that time. They can't expect us to believe that what we have experienced had nothing to do with them.

[@edc1569]

Exactly, just compare Britain’s growth to our peer neighbours.

[@lukefletcher9644]

Especially with an 80 seat majority. The changes they could have made....so sad.

[@lestrem11]

Maybe, but difficult to vote for ‘change’ when Starmer doesn’t know what that entails.

[@LondonSteveLee]

What Tories?

[@lukefletcher9644]

@@lestrem11 like Peter Hitchen says, 'he's just another Blarite politician'

[@paultaylor7082]

Agree here with Mr Hitchens. The UK hasn't been much of an armed force threat since the Yanks told us to go back home during the Suez crisis of 1956, along with France. We simply don't have enough members in the Armed Forces nor do we spend anywhere near enough on defence to be considered anything more than a minor payer. We're strictly Second League and have been for almost 70 years.

[@Shankar-Bhaskar]

Britain doesn't need to spend anymore on its armed forces. The Royal Navy has HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales- the marquee aircraft carriers in its UK Carrier Strike Group. However you are right about the Suez Crisis. It was the final nail in the coffin of the British Imperial Empire.

[@davecross4493]

He's living in the past man. He looks at everything and everyone as a parallel to history. Not saying there is absolutely no value in doing that, there is, but people are different and Starmer absolutely will not be similar to Blair, no matter what the commentariat say. No labour Prime Minister have been remotely similar.

[@Then.72]

We have the best trained forces in the world but what you didn’t explain was that the yanks didn’t help out when the Soviets threatened us with nuclear weapons in the Suez crisis and that’s why we made our own as we did give the technology to them in the Tizard Trunk and that’s also why Edward Heath didn’t help them in Vietnam! They came back after that war offering all their weapons including the Polaris & don’t go to war without us

[@TheNerdForAllSeasons]

​@@Then.72 Best trained? By whose standards? How was this determined and what recent military action has the British Army or the Royal Marines taken part in to prove it? Barely 75,000 men, maybe 20,000 of whom are actually shooters. The British military is so hollowed out and stripped down it's horrific.

[@paulsara9694]

You spend all the money putting up illegal immigrants in hotels

[@jamesmichaels4979]

Who is even saying Britain is a super power?

[@BOBBOBBOBBOBBOBBOB69]

He is saying we act like one.

[@ragingmonk6080]

He said, "great power" not, "super power". English can be difficult.

[@julianshepherd2038]

The Daily Mail

[@ericgoodall7089]

Nobody with any brains thinks were a super power, Hitchins just windbagging.

[@user-jp1ge5nb2f]

No one important or rational. Some people in the Conservative Party have delusions of grandeur though. The UK still have some capabilities and toys that most other militaries don't have and those nutters in the Conservative Party use them. Makes them feel important, especially when they get to play with the actual superpower, the US. Its sad but only people over 50/55 have any memory of the generation that lived through the end of Empire. Its this bunch that never were part of Empire and only got fed WW2 movies as kids which fed the delusion Peter Hitchins refers to. Its this bunch that are the core of Brexiteers. That said, to argue the other side of the coin. Yes, it is clear the UK is not a great power but even though its military is now only the 25th largest in the world by number of personel, it has the 6th largest military budget. It operates 2 large aircraft carriers (NOT supercarriers, only the US have those), has military bases across the globe including Cyprus which allows the effective projection of force at short notice within this region. Not to mention that it is one of only 5 permanent member of the UN security council. As the lady at the end of the clip said, this isn't necessarily about showing off on the world stage but of very real concerns for the national interest. The Houthi attacks are strangling the traffic through the Suez Canal and is having a material impact on the world economy (oil and LGN tankers from the Gulf to Europe, container ships to and from China and the East to Europe). These Houthi attacks also link to wider geo-political conflicts. The Houthi's are a version of Shia Islam and have been funded for years by Iran. They have been fighting the Saudi's for years on Irans behalf. Now that Iran is Russia ally in supplying war material for the Ukraine war (Shahid drones, missiles and potentially artillery shells), these Houthi attacks distract from Western support to Ukraine. The initial Hamas attack on Israel can also be seen as part of this wider geo-political struggle as we know that Hamas has been supplied and supported by Iran for years (much of Hama's missile tech was imported from Iran). I am not saying that Iran told Hamas to attack Israel and Hamas did what they were told but it does add to the pressure of wider regional conflicts that the US and Europe then have to also contend with, including the economic effects and less talked about, the internal social impacts of opposing supporters within European countries (pro- and anti- Israel or Hamas/Palestinian, pro- and anti- military action, pro- and anti- Ukraine etc etc). So all and all, a bit of a pickle. I am personally a geo-political realist. I base by views on the logic cold hard realpolitik. But realpolitik must also factor the national and global social impact of a purely pragmatic approach to national interests.

[@nigelground283]

The go-to man for stating the bleedin obvious.

[@henryburton6529]

The go to man for talking nonsense and persuading people to vote against the UK's interests too. Britain's fall from power was not without Peter's assistance.

[@bartojoh]

- you actually made me laugh out loud :)

[@Dude0000]

Unfortunately, the obvious has to be stated, as so many are so deluded about reality.

[@GeorgeGeorgeOnly]

If this vid wasn't already 7 hours old, Nigel, I would probably have commented something very similar myself. Thank you.

[@CriticalThinker-Lad]

peter i think us Young people will decide that. the odds have never been in our favour and weve always made do.

[@gingersergio8046]

This country needs to sort it's own broken infrastructure, rather than meddling with other countries

[@paulheydarian1281]

When will the UK build proper high speed rail from London to Scotland?🤔 It's a small country and should be able to afford it.

[@nkenchington6575]

its

[@grahamstrouse1165]

Britain puts me in mind of an aging athlete who hasn’t come to terms with his own mortality. He has enough in the tank to be useful but isn’t effective anymore if you give him starter’s minutes. The UK can still be a global player but first the Brits need to come to grips with what they can and cannot do today

[@eddy66t6]

Arguably it's too late, Brexit sort of showed it: leaving Europe was going to be offset by getting the commonwealth band back together...The UK is delusional in thinking that the nations it subjugated for centuries are just going to row in now behind them because they cut off their own nose in a fit of hubris.

[@AlexGys9]

The UK can still be a global player as long as it says "Yes Sir" to whatever Washington D.C. demands.

[@enlightthehermit]

@@AlexGys9lmao

[@markmanc-zw3td]

Well we Cannot make steel, or dig up the coal under our own feet , or secure our borders & that's only a start.

[@AB-zl4nh]

UK in the EU We have democratic control. By voting to send MEPs to the EU Parliament & government ministers to the Council of the EU. UK with US We have no democratic control.

[@ragingmonk6080]

I am a American and obviously I like the UK. Nobody is expecting you to become a "super power". I for one would like to see you return to being a great power though. But the US and UK are thick as thieves. So of course I want you to succeed and proper. Best wishes from across the pond.

[@julianshepherd2038]

Shut up and hate who we tell you😂😂

[@BK-uf6qr]

Well said!!!!

[@LeMerch]

Such BS. The US says this about every relationship they have across the world. The Brits think they have some unique special relation and I always find it hilarious. The US didn't need the UK to attack the Houthis, they just used them for political reasons. Thats the level the UK are at. Useful idiots.

[@billsmoke4919]

Thieves indeed.

[@jmhorange]

As an American, I will warn the UK. Remember Iraq. People like to say America illegally invaded Iraq. And we like to remind people, "it was the US and UK that illegally invaded Iraq, it was a multi nation coalition. Sometimes coalitions make mistakes, but it's not like we invaded Iraq alone like some selfish arrogant nation... like we are Russia!" The US government doesn't want the UK to be a great power that can challenge our superpower status. The US government wants the UK to help it look like it builds coalitions for things it wants to do and if anything goes wrong, it's the coalition's fault.

[@jonathanperry4189]

Oh Peter. This has been knowledge to many for 40+ years. Eg Falklands, we didn't have sidewinder missiles until usa gave them, we we had to drag a small carrier back from being scrapped and the soldiers boots (DMS) were atrocious. The armed services are staffed by incredible people who mask the lack of decent investment in the services. Tories have decimated them from the "options for change" paper in the 90's to slashing standing army in 2010's and thinking we could have more territorial instead. Army recruitment numbers not met since 2010 , when it was shortly after privatised. The Tories are a national security threat. Thick as mince looking for his next outlet to allow his verbal flatulence.

[@AB-zl4nh]

UK in the EU We have democratic control. By voting to send MEPs to the EU Parliament & government ministers to the Council of the EU. UK with US We have no democratic control.

[@AethelwulfOfNordHymbraLand2333]

This comment shows that you haven't accepted Britain as a third-rate country as you think money for the armed forces is being impeded. Newsflash buddy: Britain has no money to invest in the armed forces.

[@erongi233]

The poodle like behaviour to the Americans,the obsequious behaviour, is so that the UK can still pretend it is a world power by following on after whatever the Americans are getting up to. The French,Germans,Italians prefer not to get involved in these very expensive escapades if they can avoid it. They have seen what happened in Iraq,Afganistan .The US likes having someone tame in tow because they can then call their operation "international." With Cameron back some sort of military intervention was inescapable as Eton taught Cameron his right to determine the order of the world as he sees it.

[@davidthompson4383]

People really don't understand the US-UK relationship. The elites in both nations are the same people. UK is not a poodle, it's that the Anglo nations are driven by the same interests in defending their Anglo Empire which has been the dominant power for over 300 years now.

[@carelgoodheir692]

Standing aside and letting a major seaway get blocked by a rogue stare is not a good idea. Japan, India and France among others are considering joining the US and UK in this. The UK has made worse military decisions than this in recent years!!!

[@tedcrilly46]

EU has been conducting anti-piracy operations in the same vicinity since 2008. Operation Atalanta.

[@AethelwulfOfNordHymbraLand2333]

When the Houthis are not blocking the seaway for the Brazilians, ask yourself, could it be because Brazil doesn't support a rogue, genocidal state whereas the US and UK do?

[@IK-wc4od]

Britain is becoming greece or rome. What once was, never to be again.

[@giulianoilfilosofo7927]

Britain had already become Greece in 1945.

[@Simply1ism]

I'm 50 and i heard the Susz crisis proved this and I'm three generations behind!

[@olearyma57]

I'm 65 and heard the same thing from he horses mouth !.

[@bath_neon_classical]

peter h says the same things as the voice in my head that keeps me awake at night

[@declanreck1755]

Britain's role in the World today is akin to a surfer riding the waves of a US aircraft carrier

[@michaelmcnamee533]

The truth is that Britain would struggle to defend itself nevermind act like a global super power. We need good alliances and should concetrate on homeland security and protection of shipping lanes necessary to our economic security. We should also give up our 'vanity' seat on the UN security council. It's more trouble than it's worth and the UN is not functioning as it should. An independent not USA centric foreign policy would be good as well. We have more respect from America if we said no to them once in a while.

[@gamingwithslacker]

@Times Radio, where can I listen to the full interview?

[@jamesmccallum6770]

Protecting trade routes is not a legacy of empire. It's a task mainly undertaken by the US over the last 79 years. The UK has rightly supported they in this task. I'm not saying this was the right or only way to act on this occasion, but it's not about pretending we are a superpower, it's about maintaining global stability.

[@dilonkumar4960]

You could have done more to force a ceasefire

[@yehldyehld]

@@dilonkumar4960 No, it's time we stop running circles around the issue. The terrorists only understand violence.

[@miraladak2314]

Maintaining stability? Britain, along with the US, played a major role in destabilising the Middle East

[@AethelwulfOfNordHymbraLand2333]

Your trade routes are only under threat because you support a rogue, genocidal state. You don't have the moral ascendancy to respond rightly. It would only make things worse.

[@SacClass650]

We say "how high?" whenever the US says "jump", to then deal with the repercussions in the form of thousands of refugees.

[@GRD211]

Along with civilian merchant ships, they attacked a Royal Navy vessel. Would you rather we didn't respond?

[@bb5979]

What they doing there in the first place?

[@daviddoink872]

Were they British merchant ships ?

[@GRD211]

@@bb5979 given that they Houthi's have been attacking civilian merchant ships on an international shipping route, what do you think they were doing there?

[@GRD211]

@@daviddoink872 not as straight forward as that but some of the ships were owned by our allies.

[@AlexGys9]

I'd rather we responded because we wanted to, not because we were told to.

[@anthonywilson8998]

Inflation isn’t prices. The high prices stay. The cost of living increases stay. The damage is done as noted here. We need cost increase comparisons over the 2 year period. This is what labour should be pointing out. Where are they ?.

[@AussiePom]

The "special relationship" with the US is only "special" if you do what you told to do when you're told to do it. Britain stopped being a world power way back in 1941 when the US took over the role of world's policeman and Britain ever since has been more semblance than substance. Britain doesn't really have a role to play in the world anymore and it made that choice way back in 1973 when it entered the Common Market which in 1992 became the EU. You only have to listen on how the British people spoke saying they had something that was the biggest or best in Europe but not the world because Britain wasn't in the world for it's entire focus was on Europe not the world. Now out of Europe Britain doesn't know how to sell itself to the world and the world has moved on without Britain since the days of empire which is now known as the Commonwealth but the Commonwealth doesn't do what Britain says anymore for the members of the Commonwealth act in their best interests not Britain's. Brexit was a failure because British politicians ares still under the grand illusion that the world revolves around Britain but it doesn't and that happened from Britain's self imposed exile from the world trading stage to a European trading stage. Many of Britain's former colonies are out performing Britain by a huge margin and many within the British establishment flatly refuse to see that fact.

[@hardywatkins7737]

Do we really need Peter Hitchens to tell us what we already know ....

[@JohnSmith-ti2kp]

@hardywatkins7737- Not everyone seems to know the reality, some Brits I have talked with think the U.K. has equal strength as the U.S.. If you really want a sense of grandiose go talk with Australians. Many commoners there also think they are equals to the U.S. in military strength, when in reality many U.S. states have more population than their entire country and the state's national guard more men and resources.

[@SagaciousFrank]

He was likely telling you what you didn't know decades ago, you've probably only just caught up with him.

[@hardywatkins7737]

@@JohnSmith-ti2kp I've never met any of those delusional people - they must be very few in number.

[@hardywatkins7737]

@@SagaciousFrank No, i said "What we already know" for all Peter's learning, this is basic stuff.

[@hardywatkins7737]

@@Besthinktwice You might think so but is it actually true.

[@lukeamato423]

This the same guy that couldnt stand criticism from a youtuber and ran away crying? Guys a clown

[@brockit79]

That was awkward I must admit, I cringed.

[@Viewer-discretion-is-advised7]

Peter is spot on here always interesting to hear what he has to say.

[@mrnice7570]

😂 the mental defective claims cannabis makes you microwave babies FFS 😂

[@multipl3]

Wouldnt call it a war. We are protecting mariners and civilians who work the ships being indiscriminately attacked. The houthis even attacked a russian ship lol

[@phat_dike]

The United States can handle it by itself. No need for Britain to get involved.

[@supersurfer1]

They haven’t attacked any Russian ships because Russia is not a war monger. In fact the only ships they attacked were Israeli. They are acting within international law unlike usa and its proxy uk. The Houthis are acting under the authority of the first Geneva convention: Importantly, the Convention establishes on State Parties the obligation to take measures to prevent and to punish the crime of genocide, including by enacting relevant legislation and punishing perpetrators, “whether they are constitutionally responsible rulers, public officials or private individuals” (Article IV).

[@marcdornan1454]

@@supersurfer1 Wrong actually. They are rather randomly attacking ships. I mean that is just a fact. They did attack a Russian ship the other day. It is all reported widely.

[@callumc4701]

if my family member was in the merchant navy and being targeted i would expect my country to go out and protect its citizen's

[@supersurfer1]

@@callumc4701 well your country has chickened out and says we can’t fight Yemen and Yemen drowned a us cargo ship today right in front of the us and uk navy and they couldn’t do jack.

[@joewalsh4685]

We do not have the military might or the resources to continue fighting wars.

[@paulallen8109]

Most of those wars are shams anyway.

[@bigdaz7272]

Square 1? If by that if he means our Standard of Living 14 Years ago, then yes please LOL

[@martinlee465]

British military strength is perceived largely on a reputation of yesteryear. Its Haka rather than its on field ability is probably its strongest weapon today. If we as a people don't accept this reality, we will keep getting into embarrassing military situations.

[@johnhodgson8684]

But that's not the full story and in Europe there is only us and France with the big stick . With the USA backing out of it's promises we are one of the greatest military powers in Europe but we apparently are not? .

[@TheLucanicLord]

It's half of Yemen, not like we declared war on a proper country like Portugal or Beninwho might give us a run for our money.

[@stephenconnolly3018]

twit

[@ycylchgames]

​@@TheLucanicLordI seem to recall the US saying something similar about Vietnam. How'd that go?

[@shinzagu]

they trying to recruit more women and demonise men

[@stewartbunting3568]

I have a lot of respect for Peter Hitchens, he talks a lot of sense.

[@MrSmegfish]

He has his moments...loves attention , very repetative...easily lead..was once a communist.....oh...oh...no...

[@peterweicker77]

This discussion beautifully reflects the meandering pointlessness of present day politics.

[@albertgrant1017]

You are absolutely correct.Both the main parties in the US and the UK are hopelessly corrupt and out of step with real ity.

[@majormoolah5056]

If we build an all-European defence, then we can have our own capabilities separate of the Americans. Europe has the technology, money and people to do it. The reason EU militaries are weak is because we clung to NATO for so long.

[@johnhodgson8684]

We already have one of the Greatest Navy's in NATO many believe second only to the USA . Our Air force is not bad either. Plus we Are one of only 3 with the big stick and only the second in Europe, independent from the USA and their political agenda. I don't see Britain passing about a begging bowl . It would be far easier and cheaper to give up our tank production and buy 600 leapard 2s or M1s but we don't need them and want to keep our own production.

[@alanbeaumont4848]

@@johnhodgson8684 And which naval power are we defending against?

[@fitzstv8506]

@@johnhodgson8684 The UK's military is not independent it relies almost exclusively on US support and it's nuclear deterrent is 100% dependent on the US and from the perspective of a European politically the UK is subserviant to US interests. Europe's second nuclear power France on the other hand is completely independent and manufacturers most of it's own hardware and 100% of it's deterrent and it's forces at least match and exceed those of the UK in most areas especially in the air.

[@majormoolah5056]

@@fitzstv8506 France is really benefiting from its independent position in 2024. It is safe to say they are the European power to watch in 2020s.

[@majormoolah5056]

@@johnhodgson8684 UK is powerful, but in many key areas depends too much on US. Nothing against the American people, but their politics are totally falling apart. It would be much better for UK to be the Big Bulldog inside Europe instead of the Little Helper of USA.

[@transvestosaurus878]

Has he finally caught up to the 1950s?

[@josefschiltz2192]

AD or BC?

[@proffessorclueless]

Are we being unfair to the Conservatives? Was that meant to be a joke? How can you be unfair to a party that has destroyed everything.

[@trogdortpennypacker6160]

UK knows it isn't a great power and most of us regular people are fully aware of it. I learned that when our military failed in Basra against some militias. We are a middle power and there is nothing wrong with that.

[@davidthompson4383]

Our military didn't fail in Basra. It succeeded within just a few weeks with it's primary objectives.

[@GRD211]

Do you know where Basra is?

[@supersurfer1]

Uk is not even a middle power. Look at the IDF they are supposedly the world’s best equipped and trained military but how Hamas has demolished them. Too much brainwashing in the west

[@87stevan]

Of course there is something wrong with that. Britain deserves to be in the winners circle, carving its own destiny, as we have for centuries. Why would you want to live in a country that is playing second fiddle and a lapdog to another?? Sound like the dream of a weak coward to me.

[@shinzagu]

UK is dying from the inside

[@seanmoran2743]

This country gravely injured itself to the point of dying decades later by getting involved in the stupidity in the continent in 1914 It then continued to mismanage itself into further decline

[@paulallen8109]

And by *not* getting involved "in the stupidity in the continent in 1914" they casually ignore 500 years of foreign policy of making sure *nobody* dominates the European continent to actually pose a threat to the British. When France was mighty during Napoleon it made sense supporting Prussia and Russia. During WWI and WWII when Germany was mighty it made sense supporting France and Russia. During the Cold War when Russia/Soviet Union was mighty it made sense supporting France and (West)Germany. Knowing the ever growing German navy in the early 1900's *in what reality* is Britain just going to accept the German navy being harboured in Belgium being a *direct threat* to the Royal Navy?? The minute the Germans set foot in Belgium Britain gets pulled into the war. Belgium under German control is way too close for comfort. They're just going to sit back and watch and hope an ever mightier German navy is going to be courteous?? Right. And listen - the French actually carried the war pretty much alone on the Western Front in 1914-1916 while the British didn't get seriously involved until mid 1916, at which point it was clear more than a token presence was needed to win the war. Even so the British kept a seizable force at home throughout the war in "reserve" and never committed fully. Btw, unlike France Britain was almost completely intact following WWI *and* also now controlled large parts of the former Ottoman Empire (including Arabia and its soon to be discovered oil). And *nobody* trusted Imperial Germany after 5 major expansionist wars in the 1800's. Heck even the Austrians realized they were suckered into a war with Russia and later Italy just because the Kaiser egged them on against Serbia and insisted on driving a harsh and humiliating ultimatum. As for post-WWII Britain. It should have modeled itself after the Federal German Republic rather than aping the USA in everything from industry to politics. The latter could rely upon its vast domestic market... Well, at least longer... Detroit was once the center of the automotive world but kept believing it was still the 1960's way into the 21st century. History? Do you read it?

[@zakatista5246]

The title of this is hilarious. No kidding... lol.

[@mrmajeika6101]

Britain has not been a great power in my lifetime, and I was born in 1978!

[@Jeremiah59]

The basis was UK industrial power which we gave away. You cannot make ships and guns etc without an industrial base.

[@nicks4934]

Gave away? 😂 seems others are better at making stuff

[@Jeremiah59]

It was a globalist plan. Listen to the Dr Richard Day tapes. It was a plan for economic interdependence, very much as depicted in the movie Rollerball with James Caan. I believe Margaret Thatcher executed this plan. Japan used to be a joke, china used to be a joke, GB was a world resepected manufacturer in the early 1900's. What changed???@@nicks4934

[@vlastelinprislic286]

​@@nicks4934no, just cheaper.

[@Txja]

I have lost a lot of respect for Mr Hitchens after the way he carried himself with Alex O`conner.

[@seanmoran2743]

Foreign Policy This is about protecting the Anglo American Financial System and the Dominance it holds (which is crumbling)

[@Kavala76]

In general I very much agree with what Hitchens says here. The UK appears to me little more than a loyal lapdog of the USA. An old chihuahua who looks in the mirror and sees a young bulldog.

[@silencemeviolateme6076]

Appearances can be deceiving

[@freddibnah1830]

we couldn't win a war with Lego Land ffs

[@petermills1397]

If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it - Muhammad Ali. If Britain wants to be a great power, it can be a great power. As with all countries, it is a consequence of the collective determination, vision and desire of its countrymen. There is no reason why Britain cannot remain a great power - as it has for more than 2000 years.

[@87stevan]

You're right about that Peter. So many people, especially "British" people, would rather we just lay down and go quietly into night. That's not the country I want, and I'm pretty sure that's not the country millions died for in those 2 great wars wanted either. You don't have to have a large landmass to be powerful.

[@EricaNernie]

Nah, they've the UK into a giant charity shop.

[@AlexGys9]

The wonderful dream of a great power on the world stage while the child poverty rate in the UK is the worst of all western countries.

[@petermills1397]

@@AlexGys9 I hate people who complain about things. Why don't you get out there and do something about it. Nothing happens unless you take action. Focus about doing something about it in your local area. Start small. If my mind can conceive it, and my heart can believe it, then I can achieve it - Muhammad Ali.

[@olearyma57]

Died a wreck being beaten by Journey Men. Every dog has his day. Oh the 'Power of Positive Denial and Delusion'. ' Believe enough ' said the hypnotist and you can delude yourself into believing anything.

[@EnglishroG]

Has any rational person claimed that Britain is a great power since, say 1960?

[@Crouchy232323]

Despite the allegations Hitchens is a national hero

[@MrLGD1234]

What allegations?

[@lervish1966]

@@MrLGD1234 He's constipated.

[@cobbler40]

I had hoped post Brexit as the UK’s power disappeared, as planned we would not become involved in these wars m, especially as our military is shrunk to dangerous levels.

[@jonzu217]

Leaving the EU would make us more aligned with the USA. The UK and Belarus have two things in common a First Past the Post Electoral System and its foreign and defence policy is run by another country.

[@silencemeviolateme6076]

​@@jonzu217i strongly disagree. The US and UK have the exact same goals. Our founding fathers wanted representation in UK government and when they didn't get it they just created their own UK style government. The American revolution wasn't an ideological war. It was purely economic. No taxation without representation.

[@jonzu217]

@@silencemeviolateme6076 I agree it was competing elites, both in the 13 colonies and in Great Britain the elites wanted to protect their vested interests and the clash was that the US elites wanted to do a land grab and the British had a treaty with the Indians. Of course, we end up with no taxation without representation, Thomas Paine etc. Just look at our democracies, your Constitution guarantees Elite rule and the final defence of the Elite is the Supreme Court. While in the UK the mother of Parliaments (joke) as an unelected second chamber and both countries have a two-party system. No wonder the UK and USA support the Zionists they know a lot about land grabs.

[@Dfoskdty]

​@@jonzu217 Oh like the rest of EU members arent American satalites, Germany (the modern German state) was literally found through occupation zones. You continentals love to rip on us for this type of thing, which I'll admit isn't exactly wrong. But you all are not much better, your pride and arrogance just wont allow you to see it. America controls danm near all of us, wake up.

[@edwardgilmour9013]

The volume on this is so poorly recorded that it can hardly been heard with the volume on Maximum.

[@alundavies1016]

Very rare that I share an opinion with Hitchens, but I will on this occasion. I’m quite happy to live in a mid-level state if we can just focus on making the UK a modern state which is run for the benefit of the people.

[@mikebartlett723]

I won't pretend to know the details, but protecting free passage of the sea lanes is Britain's most important strategic objective. We are an island nation that is dependent on free sea trade for our food and energy. Also, if trade cannot move freely the price of goods shall increase and therefore the quality of life and prosperity of UK citizens will decrease.

[@RenBR]

Britain? Protecting sealanes? With what? With that handfull of ships that cannot even perform independently without US support? 😂😂😂😂😂

[@mikebartlett723]

@@RenBR Hitchens video above makes the point that UK shouldn't be getting involved in the Red Sea issue. My point is that we should because it's one of the most important shipping routes in the world (Suez Canal) and even more important to Europe specifically. I completely agree with Hitchens that the UK shouldn't have gotten involved with silly middle east wars like Iraq 2, Afghanistan and Libya. While UK's fleet is tiny compared to US (who's isn't?) it still has x2 large aircraft carriers, x6 nuclear attack submarines and 70 surface vessels in total including 6 Destroyers, 11 Frigates and 26 patrol vessels. It should chip in, like every other country that depends on free shipping.

[@jamesmccallum6770]

Peter, once again, underscores his intellectual distance from his brother.

[@BigScubes]

If peter hitchens cracks a smile legend says that pigs will sprout wings

[@aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa69]

Nobody claimed that we were, we're a US ally and it's incredibly important for our security that we remain as such. That's why we're participating - to buy a seat at the table as soon as the US pulls out of the world security game. Nobody says this because the UK wants to look strong and the US wants the strikes to seem truly unilateral. Peter can be dense sometimes.

[@Shaggy-8392]

It was only the sense of duty and good will of south asia that you had an army in WW1 and WW2.

[@merrybolton2135]

I never thought the day would come that I agreed with Hitchens . Why is it the dogs of war still have the upper hand ?? Could it be the profit these dogs make .

[@SimonParker-hv6uu]

The five point plan isn't a plan; it's a wishlist. Same with Tice when he says zero waiting lists. A12 year old can say that. The question is, what is the detailed mechanism?

[@JamesSmith-ww9rf]

I’m 53 and have yet to meet anyone who thinks or even cares that the UK is a great power. What a waste of time this is. Just likes the sound of his own voice.

[@willalm830]

It started with the Eton interbreeds

[@jamiejack764]

Peter is on the button as usual

[@B1_66ER]

It was rude for the host to interrupt the woman near the end. I wanted to know who or what she wanted the UK to support.

[@guydreamr]

A huge component of both personal and national happiness is lowering your expectations. - Denmark

[@devanman7920]

So what just put up and shut? Always expect more of your government. We give them so much of our salary every year. Demand good and expect good. Don't lower your expectations to worse than it was 20 years ago. Personally a good saying but in this situation its complete idiotic.

[@guydreamr]

@@devanman7920 Demand good and expect good, but only up to a point - which indeed is exactly my point. Overly high expectations can lead to much unhappiness and one of the keys to the good life is striking a proper balance between the real and the ideal. This in fact was one of the major themes of the novel Don Quixote which is one reason why it has remained an enduring classic for centuries. "Tilting at windmills," or living in an idealistic fantasy world completely untethered from reality, is just as perilous now as it was then.

[@kitcat4512]

They are simply partners in Hybrid Warfare, globally. That makes us no better than mercenaries.

[@sphinx1017]

You don't say, really? What a shocking surprise.

[@digitalimager4946]

What profundity.

[@MrSmegfish]

If only wed have listened to Peter...if only wed have listened to Peter....if only wed have listened to Peter.....

[@michaelharrington7656]

Since going up to the LSE in 1961 I don't recalle ever meeting anyone who was under the impression that Britain was a great power. It is not a useful question.I recall Enoch Powell making a long and analytical speech in which he maintained that even at the time of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897 the Empire was more myth than reality. What is needed today is a sober analysis of our assets and limitations and a tighter definition of our interests.

[@lestrem11]

I didn’t know anybody said we were?

[@Ciarananthonymitchell844]

POWER is mentality first then action but there's a balance between reality & delusion! though if you don't think your powerful you'll never will be!

[@762parabillim]

"You know...." Gawd.

[@theadventuresofred19]

This ghostly apparition of Hitchens should remember that we are still the sixth biggest economy so still a bit of power.

[@user-gp9vk8he5g]

Well I live in Australia now, bus great power but probably the best standard of living in the world.

[@thejuiceking2219]

@@clarevoyant6322 also gdp doesn't really mean much, trying to gauge economic potential by a single metric doesn't really work, it's like judging a person based on what they got on an iq test

[@pastyman001]

The Tories have cut wages, benefits, pensions, services and are now destroying farming, manufacturing, roads and infrastructure plus care. They have wasted huge sums and had their hands in the till to millions. Public spending is 40% of the the economy , so when they cut and cut it, less goes around. With a multiplier of 3.5 times, money that goes in comes back to the government in taxes.

[@GG-hu9dn]

We've gone far below " Square One?"

[@supernoodles91]

Inflation was always going to come down, had nothing to do with Sunak

[@Purple_flower09]

The UK is a great power in decent things. Music, art, culture and literature. Other countries and groupings long ago took on the heavy lifting of geo politics and trying to dominate by military power. Everyone I know is happy with this.

[@user-gp9vk8he5g]

A has been country, why live there get out.

[@chrisbirmingham5132]

If only there were some way we could combine with countries in Europe that share our values and stop posturing like some sort of geriatric great power - wouldn't that be wonderful? And how can you want a government that attends to domestic issues, such as schools and public services, and yet be opposed to social democracy?! Hitchens ties himself in ideological knots...

[@bb5979]

Childish, pro globalist responsibility shirking nonsense.

[@gjones8847]

Spot on Peter

[@jamesmccallum6770]

A clear example of an institution have delusions of grandeur can be seen in the met police asking for evidence of crimes against humanity in Gaza. Talk about overreach!!

[@WuhanLabLeak]

Hey it’s the big baby who had a tantrum on that podcast!

[@onionseggplant6595]

After his appearance on Alex O'Connor's podcast I just can't take him seriously 😂😂😂

[@gw7624]

Get a grip. Peter is a professional and Alex is just another KZbinr who knows about the world and will almost certainly be forgotten in 5 years.

[@HarvesterYT]

Professional at what? Running away from opinions he doesn't like?​@gw7624

[@gw7624]

@@HarvesterYT Google him you dolt.

[@turbolevo8703]

Peter wouldn’t want to be taken seriously by you and your emojis.

[@everTriumph]

Being bloody powerless isn't a good option either!!!

[@steviemac42]

I'm pretty sure we all know that.

[@trevellyanblack4101]

Are we being unfair to the Conservatives? They've managed to bankrupt a country that wasn't bankrupt.

[@LondonSteveLee]

Remember the note left by Labour? "We've spent all the money" - in 1997 we were within touching distance of fiscal surplus for the first time since the early 1900s. A working class man could afford to rent or buy a house - immigration ran at 50,000 per year. Labour ruined everything - a financial scorched-earth policy and the so-called Tories just carried on the same policies because genuine (and required) cuts would have been politically too painful.

[@greatscott369]

I was born, lucky me, in a land that I love, though I'm poor I am free. When I grow I shall fight, for this land I shall die. Let her sun never set. victoria, victoria

[@oliveoil7642]

Rhodes, Milner and the monarchy were pompous enough to think their Empire would last forever!

[@michaelhannah5376]

He can occasionally makes sense but most of the time he thinks is the sage of our time and loves the sound of his voice.. Newsflash!!! Nobody thinks Britian is a great power, thanks to you and your Tory mates. We step up , in situations like the Red Sea because nobody else will!!

[@aidan11162]

Kind of leaving out the big kid on the block there

[@ericgoodall7089]

Well said.

[@PEdulis]

"I still think we do have a role in the world, disproportionate to our size and power for sure." Only to contradict herself immediately: "When it comes to the withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan, we should have done better, I think." BUT YOU DID NOT, so why do you still think the UK had a significant role in the world?

[@cazzi1929]

The real big difference with this election is that both parties are offering roughly the same technocratic government with, what they see as 'token irrationalities', to voters. But there's hardly any difference between the parties. At the end of the day, it gets dark and you go to bed.

[@zolandia5262]

If Britain wants to remain a permanent member of the UN security council then it needs to involve itself in enforcing international law such as freedom of navigation. It can't remain a P5 member and do nothing. The case of the red sea is as well more important to Britain than it is to the US.

[@peterbranagan1010]

"How much evidence is required before it is clear that Western Civilization is empty of integrity, judgment, reason, morality, empathy, compassion, self-awareness, truth, empty of everything that Western Civilization once respected? All that is left of the West is insouciance and unrestrained evil." ~Dr Paul Craig Roberts, former Undersecretary Of Treasury, Reagan Administration

[@scottjock]

You should have been in charge instead of Churchill when we were down.

[@georgethompson453]

I’ll be surprised if the electoral turnout is higher than in 2001 which was below 60%.

[@Ste2023]

Probably 42% turnout

[@Meoldson]

I don't think many Brits really feel that they are a great power.

[@SNOWDONTRYFAN]

One does not need to be a great power these days ! , just a good coalition partner among many ?

[@user-gp9vk8he5g]

Groveller

[@Ellis307]

What’s wrong with her face at 1:10?

[@McConnachy]

I worked with some ex soldiers, all from England, they all came out with the same thing, best fighting force the world has ever seen. Which is total cr@p. Scotland historically lost more men than anyone, especially WW1 where proportionally we had the highest losses of any country, but that's because we were the meat attack, the ones the British aristocracy felt threatened by, so any survivors were sent to Murmansk to fight the reds in 1919, it's why our memorials list 1914 - 1919

[@mind-blowing_tumbleweed]

As a Russian, thank scots for fighting the reds

[@edwinstar100]

Having "nukes" does not make you a great power either, take that n korea. That is the basis for thinking you are a great power. You have no economic influence, and that is what matters now.

[@davidcross8028]

I do like to hear Peter Hitchens, but it would be nice to hear how he will vote... him and others like him.?

[@devanman7920]

Wow and next week the great Peter will tell us Britain is an island.

[@tara1941]

I agree and we should STOP ACTING like one

[@peterclareburt4594]

The UK hasn't been a great power for decades. Why do you think they think that? The UK just has partners/ allies, the collective has power based on the USA underwriting the collective.

[@MarjorieStoker-oj8fh]

Sad to say but he's correct