Tony Blair Cautions Starmer Against Retaliation Over Trump Tariffs

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Tony Blair Cautions Starmer Against Retaliation Over Trump Tariffs

 

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has advised Labour leader and current Prime Minister Keir Starmer not to retaliate against newly imposed U.S. tariffs, warning that a tit-for-tat response would not be in Britain’s best interest. Speaking to students at King's College London, Blair commended Starmer for maintaining a calm and measured approach after President Donald Trump announced a 10 percent tariff on all British exports to the United States.

 

“I don’t think it is in the U.K.’s best interest to retaliate,” Blair said, as first reported by The Independent. He applauded what he described as Starmer’s “cool heads” strategy, suggesting that avoiding escalation would better serve the long-term health of U.K.-U.S. relations.

 

 

The British government has confirmed it is working to secure an economic agreement with Washington that could lead to the removal of the tariffs. Treasury Minister James Murray acknowledged on Sky News that discussions with businesses were ongoing to identify areas where the tariffs would cause the least damage to British firms.

 

“We want to involve businesses in that decision, and we need to be clear that we keep all options on the table,” Murray said. “We reserve the right to retaliate, but we want a deal, and our full focus is on that.”

 

In remarks made Thursday, President Trump claimed that Starmer had responded positively to the U.K.'s exemption from a harsher 20 percent tariff, which was instead applied to goods from the European Union. “We have a very good dialogue,” Trump said. “I think he was very happy about how we treated them with tariffs.”

 

Blair, who led Britain from 1997 to 2007 and maintained a close relationship with Republican President George W. Bush, also expressed unease over Trump’s apparent wavering support for NATO. Reflecting on the 1990s conflict in Kosovo, Blair recalled the pivotal role of American military power and emphasized the importance of transatlantic cooperation.

 

“It became clear to me that we could never have done it without the Americans,” he said. “I thought, ‘This is crazy — what happens if the Americans decide they don’t want to be part of it?’” According to Blair, efforts to encourage greater European defense contributions were quickly entangled in political debates around Euroskepticism, hindering long-term progress.

 

Blair’s comments appear aimed at preserving the so-called "special relationship" between London and Washington—a diplomatic priority throughout his premiership—and come at a moment of economic tension and political recalibration. As Starmer navigates a delicate balancing act between defending British economic interests and maintaining transatlantic goodwill, Blair’s message is clear: confrontation may feel justified, but diplomacy is likely the wiser path.

 

Based on a report by Politico  2025-04-05

 

 

[quake]

Oh look, it's  ( deleted)  that set the uk on a path of destruction.

Nice job Tony.

I'm very impressed with your legacy.

Oh I forgot,  W.M.D. great job Tony.  

 

[JonnyF]

Blair always sides with US Presidents. 

 

Just as he did with his illegal war that destabilised the middle east based on wmd lies.

 

He's a war criminal. 

[thaibeachlovers]

Given I agree with him that retaliation will only make things worse, perhaps Blair isn't as dumb as I thought he is.

Trump likely wants some grovelling and a deal, and then he'll make the horrid tariffs go away. Starmer should at least try that before going all kindy war on the US.

[thaibeachlovers]

43 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

Blair always sides with US Presidents. 

 

Just as he did with his illegal war that destabilised the middle east based on wmd lies.

 

He's a war criminal. 

Yes, but even a war criminal can get it right sometimes.

[JonnyF]

26 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Given I agree with him that retaliation will only make things worse, perhaps Blair isn't as dumb as I thought he is.

 

He's not dumb. He's evil.

 

26 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Trump likely wants some grovelling and a deal, and then he'll make the horrid tariffs go away. Starmer should at least try that before going all kindy war on the US.

 

Starmer is the perfect "man" for a bit of grovelling. It's in his nature. 

[Dogbarker]

If Blairs lips move we know what is coming out ... He still has a lot to answer for IMHO of course 

[JonnyF]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Yes, but even a war criminal can get it right sometimes.

 

Sometimes evil drug dealers kill evil drug dealers 

 

It's still murder. 

 

Blair shouldn't be anywhere near politics. He oozes evil from every pore.