Graham Stuart MP

🇨🇳 🇺🇸 Imagine China invades the United States. Chinese troops occupy Alaska. Chinese missiles destroy American cities, power stations and hospitals. Beijing complains that Washington has been behaving provocatively by refusing to surrender. President Donald Trump appears on television, desperately appealing to Europe for help. Europe’s response? “Donald, shut up. You don’t have the cards. You’re in a very bad position. You should be grateful we’re even talking to you.” Then a Chinese missile strikes an elementary school in Washington. Dozens of American children are killed. A European leader is asked whether Beijing should be held responsible. “Look, it’s terrible. Absolutely terrible. But we must remember that people are dying on both sides. Chinese soldiers are being killed by American troops, too. We cannot simply blame China because some American children have died. We need to understand the legitimate security concerns of both countries.” Meanwhile, reports emerge that 50,000 American children have been forcibly taken by Chinese occupation forces. Children from Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas and Texas have been transported to China, separated from their parents and placed with Chinese families. Europe urges everyone to remain calm. “Frankly, some of these children have been placed with better Chinese families. Very respectable people. Lovely homes. We mustn’t allow emotional arguments about children to derail the peace process.” Trump demands their immediate return. European leaders roll their eyes. “Honestly, the man is exhausting. Every time we speak to Trump, it’s the same bloody thing. Anti-aircraft missiles, air defence systems, ammunition, weapons, weapons, weapons. Can’t he just shut up for five minutes? We’re trying to negotiate peace here.” Meanwhile, Europe demands that Washington immediately stop attacking Chinese oil refineries and military infrastructure. “American strikes are escalating the conflict and threatening global energy prices. Beijing needs reassurance that its infrastructure will be protected.” China continues systematically destroying America’s electricity grid, bridges and railway networks. Europe calls for restraint. From America, naturally. European envoys then fly to Beijing to negotiate lucrative deals involving gas from occupied Alaska and a magnificent new North American security architecture. “We must address China’s legitimate security concerns. Perhaps America could withdraw its troops from certain states and reconsider its military alliances. After all, Beijing has genuine concerns about American military forces operating so close to Chinese positions.” The Chinese positions are in Texas. Trump protests that nobody has asked the Americans what they think. “Donald, we’re negotiating peace. Please stop being difficult. China’s security concerns are just as legitimate as yours.” Eventually, Brussels announces a historic agreement with Beijing determining the future of North America. The Americans are invited to applaud. Now, if this sounds like foreign policy devised by a committee of spectacularly incompetent estate agents attempting to sell a house while its owners are being murdered upstairs, congratulations. Your brain is functioning. In modern American diplomacy, the country invading its neighbour deserves security guarantees, commercial opportunities and understanding. And the children? Well, there are always two sides to every story. The moral collapse of a government. Stay connected, follow @Microinteracti1

I don't remember Nigel complaining about my methodology when I had Reform 9 points ahead...

Thanks @Nigel_Farage – it is true that, like you, I didn’t serve in the armed forces. But I’m incredibly proud of what I delivered for them as Defence Procurement Minister - the deal to buy back the defence estate, so we can actually rebuild forces housing; the MoD’s first ever Drone strategy, kicking off uncrewed development like the hybrid navy; procuring directed energy weapons for the first time, like DragonFire; and chairing the Defence Nuclear Board overseeing CASD, a role usually held by the Secretary of State. But do you know what I’m really proud of? Being part of a govt that moved heaven & earth to help Ukraine in its great fight for freedom. In comparison, what did you do when Russia invaded? Blame NATO. And you’ve repeated that baseless position since. So I offer my best wishes to your new spokesman, @AngusReform, but I hope next time he’s in front of the press you’ll let him actually be a spokesman - so we can find out if he agrees with your abhorrent views on Russia/Ukraine, that lack compassion & the good sense needed to be a proper leader, rather than a preening Putinista populist.

I see things v differently to Orr but horrible to see the screeching of the entitled brats who simply can't bear the idea someone doesn't agree with them & believe they have the right to shout them down.

The evidence is hitting us hard in our face! That’s why the #Defence Committee has been warning for over a year now that, rather than delaying decisions, we need to chart a path to 3% GDP spend and #invest properly now in our nation’s security. bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cmj4…

Labour are in trouble on this. And they clearly know it.

There are at least five veterans on our Defence Select Committee, Tan Singh is collegial and professional. What contempt for parliamentary colleagues, veterans and HMF.

He speaks for so many business people across the country.

It is wholly inappropriate for any Defence Secretary to talk about the Chairman of the Defence Select Committee in this way – totally disrespectful. Just because @TanDhesi had the temerity to question where the money is going to come from to get to 3% - given John Healey still has no plan, despite resigning over that very matter – it’s no excuse for @wesstreeting to vent his frustration in this way.

An honour to have been knighted by the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle on Tuesday. And to have been accompanied by my fiancée and my children. Photos: @PA

Labour utterly hopeless on welfare reform. Now appear to be saying they will NOT be reducing welfare bill before the next election after Chancellor said exactly the opposite on air this morning. Shambles. xitter.cf/jackelsom/status/21157…

Something has shifted in the polls. @reformparty_uk and the Conservative Party have now crossed over, even on the averages, and I think Reform UK's slide from here is inevitable. I've written about the reasons before, but they bear repeating. Scandal follows them everywhere. The policy work is sloppy, and they flip-flop on the economy from right to left and back again. They call themselves the only genuine party of the right, then announce policies that read like something from @dilmabr-era Brazil - handouts dressed up as a programme. When they campaign, they lie, and on X they get community-noted so often they've racked up more notes this year than every other party combined. And they're cry-bullies: happy to misquote everyone else, but get their knickers in a twist the moment it happens to them. The @ITV documentary on racism in the party was, honestly, a lousy piece of work. But Reform UK's response to it told you more than the film did. E.g. senior figures like @danny__kruger and Robert Jenrick wouldn't condemn racist remarks aimed at @KemiBadenoch by a Reform UK-affiliated Raheem Kassam. That matters. Underneath all of it is something harder to pin down, but voters feel it. Reform UK is a kind of political antimatter. There's nothing positive about it - it exists purely as the anti-Tory party, a shadow that feeds on voter anger with the Conservative Party. That's why truth-telling doesn't feature in their campaigning. Lying and smearing is the only viable strategy they have, because the moment the anger fades, so do they. If Badenoch succeeds in renewing the Conservative Party - neo-Thatcherite economics, cultural patriotism, and actually persuading the voters she will deliver on a manifesto this time - there is simply no need for Reform UK. Antimatter only exists for as long as the resentment does. And being antimatter warps you. If you believe the anger that birthed you gives you carte blanche to do whatever you like, honour and ethics stop applying. That's a futile strategy, and it tells you everything about the people behind it. They don't have Britain's interests at heart; they want power. They don't have the talent to build or govern - only to campaign, make noise, put on a show. If you care about Britain and you're on the right, the renewed Conservative Party is the party of builders: a proper intellectual foundation, a committed and positive leader in Badenoch, and a mechanism to field the most right-wing manifesto in decades, with candidates publicly contracted to vote it through. That's the party to support.