The Traitors finale was dazzling, but the BBC must heed this warning

When Alan Carr won The Celebrity Traitors back in November, I wondered whether the success of that series had salted the earth for its civilian sibling. Just 56 days after the Carr supremacy (only a week longer than a Liz Truss premiership) The Traitors returned at the start of this year with a groan. Did the country have the enthusiasm for another month-long obsession? Wouldn’t Traitors fatigue set in? But it was New Year’s Day and, with nothing else to do, I, like many others, threw caution to the wind. Along with almost 12 million Brits, I started another round of the parlour game that’s gripped the nation. And – dammit – again I got sucked in.

Whether it was traitorous Celtic duo Rachel and Stephen forging an unshakeable bond in the turret, rogue “Secret Traitor” Fiona self-immolating, crime novelist Harriet also self-immolating (this was a season typified by interesting decision making), or side-burned gardener James delivering mixed metaphors and malapropisms like they were going out of flavour, season four delivered. And then some. When, with stifled delight, Stephen revealed his final board (“for reasons that will become clear”), he brought the curtain down on something quite rare in the world of reality TV: a genuinely impressive performance. This isn’t The Apprentice, where ill-equipped buffoons stumble through simple tasks, or I’m a Celeb, where the public torture former politicians and footballers for their onanistic viewing pleasure. This is a competition that was won by two traitors who did really, really well. That their skill is lying and deceiving is beside the point. They have proven themselves to be the Willliams sisters, the Pelé and Garrincha, the Torvill and Dean, of subterfuge.

This finale captured the best of the brutal psychological drama. The distraught reaction of PhD student Jade – “blinded by trust,” in her own words – when her castle bestie, Stephen, shafted her at the last roundtable. Faraaz’s realisation, moments after his banishment, accompanied by a whispered “idiot…” of self-admonishment. “Two traitors,” Claudia Winkleman narrated at the climactic moment, “but totally faithful to each other.” Even the host – behind the fringe and eye shadow – was brought to tears. It was another great moment in a show that has proven capable of delivering big watercooler thrills.

And yet, The Traitors is clearly disposable entertainment. I scarcely remember the last series of the show (won by Leanne Quigley and Jake Brown, apparently), and what sticks in the mind most are those big dramatic moments: the first series’ doomed traitor Wilf, begging for his life; victorious villain Harry successfully knifing Molly; not-Welsh Charlotte announcing that she would be affecting a Welsh accent for the entire show. There have been only the occasional flashes of the sort of organic carnage (“she’s not a traitor, she’s my girlfriend”, for example, or “Paul’s not my son… but Ross is”) that we saw in the early-Noughties heyday of deranged, destructive, but delicious, reality TV. In my review of the second series’ finale, I wrote that winner Harry was “born television gold” – since then, the only show I’ve seen him on is Traitors: Uncloaked, the post-match analysis that follows each episode.

But in that moment, while we’re all gripped to our television sets (finally, it felt like the nation was rooting for a traitor victory, after three seasons of anaemic public support for their feeble faithfuls), the throwaway nature of the entertainment feels irrelevant. This is a form of public communion, a shared intrigue. It is a show that has been deliberately engineered for the frayed, disaggregated modern mind. The twists and turns, betrayals and alliances, all give us that same dopamine hit that we get from the inane doomscroll. The Traitors isn’t an alternative to The Bear or Adolescence or Severance – it’s a replacement for an hour spent with your brain in the vice of a Big Tech algorithm. And, for that, it should be cherished.

What remains to be seen is whether the BBC can control themselves. Fifty-six days between the end of The Celebrity Traitors and the start of The Traitors is not a long time. They have a winning formula that they must avoid over-exposing. After all, reality TV shows go through cycles of salience. There have been moments where Strictly Come Dancing, The X-Factor or Britain’s Got Talent have mustered eight-figure ratings and captured our country’s conversation. All have, in turn, faded into irrelevance. There may come a time when The Traitors, too, releases its hold on small-screen audiences.

But, right now, the producers seem to have hit upon a perfect set-up. Fantastic casting, tightly controlled narrative reins, and a host who allows contestants to hold the limelight: all have colluded to make The Traitors the biggest, most dazzlingly enjoyable distraction that could be conceived in these troubled times.

Starmer ‘withdraws Chagos Islands bill’ amid US backlash over deal

Sir Keir Starmer has withdrawn his Chagos Islands bill in the face of backlash over the deal from the US, according to reports.

The legislation, which was set to be debated in the House of Lords on Monday, has now been delayed over warnings it could breach a treaty with the US that asserts the UK’s sovereignty over the archipelago, The Telegraph reports.

The government has subsequently accused peers of interfering with Britain’s national security in what it described as “irresponsible and reckless behaviour”.

The delay follows Donald Trump’s U-turn on the agreement earlier this week. Just months after endorsing Britain’s plan to hand the Indian Ocean territory to Mauritius, the US president criticised the move in a post on his Truth Social platform, calling it “an act of great stupidity”. It comes as relations between Mr Trump and Sir Keir have dramatically soured this week.

In the wake of Mr Trump’s criticism, the government suffered a small rebellion in the Commons over the deal, as legislation to finalise the agreement is caught in a wrangle between the upper and lower chambers.

The legislation is intended to provide a firm legal basis for the operation of the strategically important Diego Garcia Military Base, which has been used by UK and US forces since it was built on the islands in the 1970s. Ministers have claimed the deal is necessary because international court rulings in favour of Mauritian claims to sovereignty had threatened the future of the facility.

The proposed deal would lead Britain to give up the territory and lease back the base – a move the Conservatives have suggested would break a UK-US treaty signed in 1966, which enshrines the UK’s sovereignty over the archipelago, according to The Telegraph.

With promised updates to the 1966 agreement yet to materialise, the Tories tabled a motion in the Lords on Friday morning, demanding a delay in the treaty’s ratification for fear of otherwise breaking international law.

The Telegraph reported that legislation underpinning the deal that was set to go back to the upper chamber for further scrutiny on Monday will no longer be returning there.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch told the newspaper that the deal could “not progress while this issue remains unsolved”.

She added: “Throughout the Chagos debates, Keir Starmer has tried to hide behind the cover of international law, now the Conservatives are exposing that his shameful surrender may be illegal.”

Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: “He is happy to hand over British sovereign territory and £35bn of taxpayers’ money to an ally of China – even if it conflicts with international law.

“As a lawyer he should know better. But his desire to appease Beijing clouds his judgement, as we saw with his decision to approve the Chinese spy hub super embassy this week.”

A government spokesperson told The Independent: “The government remains fully committed to the deal to secure the joint UK-US base on Diego Garcia, which is vital for our national security.

“This is irresponsible and reckless behaviour by peers, whose roles is to check legislation, not interfere with our national security priorities.”

Trump claims Greenland deal with Nato will give him ‘total access’

Donald Trump says the deal he claims to have reached on Greenland will give the US “total” and indefinite access to the Danish territory.

Speaking to reporters on his way back from Davos, Trump said the deal would be “much more generous to the United States, so much more generous”, while skirting questions on the territory’s sovereignty.

Greenland’s prime minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen welcomed Trump’s decision earlier this week to rule out military action but said “I don’t know what there is in the agreement, or the deal, about my country.”

Greenlandic MPs have raised concerns that Nato and the US are negotiating a deal without their input, and say Greenland must be at the table on discussions around its future.

Meanwhile, Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen arrived on the island on Friday to speak with Greenlandic leader Jens-Frederik Nielsen, after visiting Keir Starmer in the UK on Thursday.

European leaders welcomed the winding down of tensions with Washington over Greenland, but were still shaken on Friday after Donald Trump cast doubt on Nato’s commitment to the US, claiming allied troops who came to America’s aid after 9/11 stayed “off the frontlines” in Afghanistan.

Victoria Beckham tops music sales charts after Brooklyn fallout

Victoria Beckham’s song Not Such An Innocent Girl has become the UK’s best-selling single of the week, a quarter of a century after it was first released.

This surge in popularity for the fashion designer and former Spice Girl’s hit follows a public fallout with her eldest son, Brooklyn Peltz Beckham.

The Official Charts Company confirmed the 25-year-old R&B pop track also became the most downloaded single of the week.

Its resurgence coincides with a dramatic public family fallout, ignited by an “explosive statement” from Brooklyn on Monday, where he reportedly made allegations against his mother and her husband, Sir David Beckham.

The statement has reportedly divided online opinion, prompting many fans to revisit Lady Beckham’s solo music.

Despite its significant sales increase, Not Such An Innocent Girl did not make the top 100 on the overall singles chart.

The sales chart, which the song now leads, tallies downloads, CDs, and vinyl purchases over a seven-day period, while the broader singles chart also incorporates audio and video streams.

Lady Beckham rose to fame in the 90s as a member of The Spice Girls, alongside Melanie “Mel B” Brown, Melanie “Mel C” Chisholm, Emma Bunton and Geri Halliwell-Horner.

Each bandmember had a nickname and Lady Beckham was known as Posh Spice. Scary Spice was Mel B, Sporty Spice was Mel C, Baby Spice was Bunton and Ginger Spice was Halliwell-Horner.

Formed in 1994, the girl group dominated the charts with nine number one songs, including hits such as Wannabe, Say You’ll Be There and 2 Become 1.

The group also had two number one albums, including their debut, Spice, followed by Spiceworld.

After the Spice Girls, Lady Beckham featured on the track Out Of Your Mind with True Steppers and Dane Bowers, and released her eponymous debut solo album in 2001, reaching number 10 on the albums chart.

She also released the songs A Mind Of Its Own in 2002 which charted at number six, followed by This Groove/Let Your Head Go in 2004, which reached number three.

Lady Beckham went on to make her mark in the fashion industry and launched her eponymous luxury fashion label in 2008.

Brooklyn claimed in a post on Instagram that his parents control narratives about his family in the press and tried to “ruin” his relationship with his wife.

He also claimed Lady Beckham “hijacked” his first dance with Nicola at their wedding and danced “inappropriately on me” in front of their guests, adding that he had never felt more “uncomfortable or humiliated” in his life.

In an interview on ITV’s This Morning, DJ Fat Tony, who performed at the three-day wedding, said that Nicola Peltz Beckham was in tears at her wedding after Lady Beckham had the first dance with her husband.

He said US singer Marc Anthony was on stage when he asked for “the most beautiful woman in the room” to come to the stage, and guests believed it was for Nicola’s first dance with Brooklyn.

Instead Lady Victoria is said to have been called to the stage by Anthony and asked to dance with her son, prompting Nicola to leave the room crying.

Brooklyn also alleged that Nicola had been “disrespected” by his family and was not invited to his father’s 50th birthday party.

Earlier this week, Sir David told US outlet CNBC’s Squawk Box that parents must let their children “make mistakes” on social media.

He continued: “It can be dangerous, but what I’ve found personally, especially with my kids as well, use it (social media) for the right reasons.

“I’ve tried to do the same with my children to educate them. They make mistakes. Children are allowed to make mistakes. That’s how they learn.”

The couple, known as Posh and Becks, have two other sons, Cruz and Romeo, and a daughter, Harper.

Brooklyn, Sir David and Lady Beckham have been contacted for comment.

Alex Honnold to free solo Taipei skyscraper without ropes

Alex Honnold’s attempt to scale one of the tallest skyscrapers on Earth without ropes or safety gear has been put on hold, for now.

Just minutes before Skyscraper Live was due to air on Netflix, it was announced that the special has been postponed due to wet weather conditions in Taipei.

Fans of Honnold who are hoping to watch the professional rock climber take on Taipei 101, the 1,667-foot, 101-story tower that dominates the skyline of Taiwan’s capital, will now have to wait until tomorrow night at 8 p.m. ET/1 p.m. GMT.

In a statement, Netflix said: “Safety remains our top priority, and we appreciate your understanding.”

Built in 2004, Taipei 101 features mostly glass curtain walls, with balconies near the top that taper to a pointed peak. It was once the world’s tallest building until the construction of Dubai’s Burj Khalifa in 2010.

Honnold is known for his record-breaking ascent of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in 2017, which was captured in the Oscar-winning documentary, Free Solo.

He has noted that Taipei 101 was previously climbed by French urban climber Alain Robert — but with ropes. Honnold believes that reaching the top unaided would make it “the biggest urban free solo ever.”

Follow along below for live updates on the climb

WTF: What the future of travel looks like in 2026

Are we done with viral hotspots? According to travel comparison site KAYAK’s WTF (that’s What The Future, by the way) 2026 trends report, the era of copy-paste travel may finally be winding down. Not because people are travelling less – quite the opposite – but because they’re travelling differently.

Drawing on billions of user searches, an independent survey from more than 14,000 Gen Z and Millennial travellers – including over 2,000 next-gen UK travellers – and exclusive TikTok community insights, KAYAK’s report shows a shift away from headline destinations and performative travel. In their place? Shorter breaks, quieter cities, better value and experiences that feel personal rather than pre-approved.

Here’s what that looks like in practice, and where those trends could take you.

The next “it” destination, it turns out, is the one you haven’t already seen 50 times on your phone. According to KAYAK, 71 per cent of Gen Z and 75 per cent of Millennials actively want to visit places they’ve never been before, while TikTok posts tagged #hiddengems are up more than 50 per cent. Saturation is the new turn-off.

Cork fits that brief neatly. Long treated as a stopping point on the way to somewhere else, Ireland’s second city still flies under the algorithmic radar. Yet it rewards curiosity in small, satisfying ways: a walkable centre, a burgeoning food scene and easy access to coastline and countryside without the fanfare.

Base yourself near Shandon rather than around the busier quays, and start the day with a stroll along the River Lee before the city fully wakes up. For dinner, follow locals to the English Market at lunchtime, then head out to Ballycotton or Garretstown the next morning.

Travellers aren’t cancelling trips in 2026, they’re financing them more creatively. Nearly 30 per cent of Gen Z and Millennial travellers say installment plans will determine how many trips they take, while KAYAK data shows international fares from the UK sitting almost exactly where they were last year. Add a 52 per cent rise in the use of flight price alerts and the picture becomes clear: deal-hunting has gone mainstream.

This shift favours cities that deliver substance without sticker shock. Bilbao still fits the bill, but it’s the city’s everyday pleasures that offer the real value. Skip the Guggenheim café and eat at Gure Toki or Sorginzulo for pintxos done properly. Better still, cross the river into Deusto at lunchtime, where menus del día feel resolutely local and prices soften noticeably. Savvy travellers are stretching budgets without sacrificing experience, and places like Bilbao are making it easy for them.

Forget souvenirs. In 2026, it’s goosebumps people are packing for. More than half of travellers say natural wonders will shape their plans, and 34 per cent list awe-inspiring experiences as a top priority. That’s driving renewed interest in northern landscapes, but not always the obvious ones.

While Tromsø continues to top bucket lists, travellers looking for something fresher are turning towards Christchurch, New Zealand as a gateway rather than a destination in itself. From here, the night skies of the Canterbury plains offer serious dark-sky credentials without the premium price tags of more famous stargazing spots. Pair it with a drive to Lake Tekapo or a night at Mt John Observatory, and prepare to be amazed as the universe puts on one of its more impressive galactic light shows.

AI has officially replaced your mate who “went once and loved it”. Nearly six in 10 travellers say they’d change destination if AI suggested somewhere better, and half would do so for a better deal. Notably, 44 per cent of AI prompts are now about value, not inspiration.

AI can also steer travellers toward lesser-visited cities that prioritise authentic, local experiences over familiar tourist circuits. Fukuoka, in particular, remains one of the country’s most liveable and engaging destinations, offering a compelling blend of modern convenience and rich cultural heritage. Base yourself near Hakata Station for better-value hotels, then eat like a local at the yatai food stalls along the Naka River. It’s informal, affordable and far more revealing than a booked-out tasting menu. Leveraging AI-led planning tools helps today’s savvy travellers to unlock the city’s true potential, moving beyond generic guidebook recommendations.

Luxury, redefined, looks suspiciously like a good night’s sleep. KAYAK’s report shows 69 per cent of Gen Z and Millennials travel primarily for mental reset, while wellness-led luxury continues to rise. The emphasis has shifted from showing off to switching off.

The Greek island of Zakynthos excels here, particularly inland. Head to villages such as Kiliomenos, where evenings are cooler and dinner at family-run tavernas like Latas stretches lazily into the night. No playlists, no dress code, just plates refilled without fuss. For one in five travellers, it’s the small comforts that matter most: a quiet morning, decent coffee, and nowhere you’re expected to be. Wellness travel isn’t about spa breaks and luxury escapes anymore; it’s about coming back better than you left.

The big-city rush is out. In 2026, 84 per cent of younger travellers say they’d rather visit a smaller city or rural area than a major hub. Lower prices help, but the real appeal is authenticity that doesn’t need explaining.

Bastia, in northern Corsica, perfectly exemplifies the trend. Mornings on the old port unfold naturally with fishermen unloading and café chairs scraping into place. Walk up to the Citadelle before the heat builds, then lunch at U San Ghjuvà for unfussy Corsican cooking. These are places where life hasn’t been edited for visitors. Yes, social media still nudges people towards them, but only once they’re already halfway there.

In 2026, the destination is wherever the action is. An overwhelming 95 per cent of Gen Z and Millennials plan to travel for a major event, whether that’s a concert, a sporting tournament or a once-in-a-lifetime performance.

Cities that flex around calendars are winning. In Canada, Toronto works as a terrific base. But those thinking ahead are looking beyond the obvious to places like Halifax, where festivals, touring acts and sporting events are easier to access and far less inflated by demand. Stay near the waterfront, eat at The Bicycle Thief, and let the event anchor the trip rather than dominate it.

Over half of travellers say slower travel helps clear their head, and #slowtravel content has surged by almost 330 per cent on TikTok. But the aim isn’t inactivity, more a break from decision-making.

The Azores remain a benchmark, but similar benefits can be found in places like Praia in Cape Verde. The rhythm is gentle, the beaches walkable, and long lunches at Quintal da Música turn into evenings almost by accident. Headspace holidays aren’t about ticking boxes, they’re about removing friction and the demand for constant optimisation.

Adventure hasn’t disappeared, it’s simply grown up. Nearly one in four travellers now combine light outdoor activity with proper rest, while searches for amenities like terraces, hot tubs and gyms continue to rise. The Great Outdoors is now more likely to be paired with a Quite Decent bottle of wine.

Hilo, on Hawaii’s Big Island, captures that softer approach to adventure perfectly. Base yourself here and mornings might mean walking the edge of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park or taking an easy hike through the stunning scenery of Akaka Falls rainforest. Afternoons are for slowing down: soaking in naturally warmed ocean pools, lingering over poke bowls or fresh fish, and letting yourself reset.

Who says holidays have to be long? Nearly two-thirds of travellers plan to take several shorter trips in 2026, with searches for one-to-four-day breaks continuing to rise. The appeal is immediacy: quick resets, minimal planning and maximum reward.

Milan makes for an excellent Nanocation. Trains run on time, neighbourhoods are compact, and finding good food rarely requires much research. Rather than chasing the Duomo and moving on, spend a night in areas like Isola or Porta Venezia, where the city feels lived-in rather than visited. Grab a seat for aperitivo along the Navigli as the working day winds down, eat late without ceremony, and walk everywhere. Milan rewards restraint; do it right, and even 24 hours can feel like a proper break.

With billions of user searches across its platforms, KAYAK helps travellers find their perfect flight, stay, rental car or holiday package. Download the app here and start exploring.

Mahmood to get power to sack chief constables after West Midlands row

Shabana Mahmood is to get new powers to sack chief constables and other senior police officers in the aftermath of the row over West Midlands Police’s move to ban Israeli football fans.

Under new measures, police will be made directly accountable to the home secretary and ministers will be handed new powers to send specialist teams into failing forces to help them fight crime more effectively.

New laws to impose mandatory vetting standards for all forces will also be brought in, following repeated failures to weed out rogue officers, including David Carrick, one of the UK’s most prolific sex offenders, who received 37 life sentences, was improperly vetted in 2017.

The move is part of a series of reforms set to be unveiled by the home secretary on Monday to overhaul failing police forces and “make communities safer” and are the biggest changes to policing since the service was founded two centuries ago.

In a white paper titled “From local to national: a new model for policing”, Mahmood is expected to outline a radical blueprint for reform, so local forces protect their community, and national policing. Underpinning the reforms are simple aims to catch criminals, cut crime, and protect the public.

But top of the change is restoring the home secretary’s power to sack chief constables – a power surrendered by the Tories in 2011 when they created elected police commissioners.

Ms Mahmood said: “The police are the public, and the public are the police. It is essential that the people can determine what they expect from their forces.

“I will make police forces accountable to parliament – driving up standards so they fight more crime in their communities.”

Ms Mahmood made it clear how frustrated and furious she was not to be able to sack former West Midlands police chief Craig Guildford after declaring she had lost confidence in him over his handling of the Aston Villa match against Maccabi Tel Aviv, which sparked global outrage.

A damning independent report found that the police under his leadership had manufactured evidence suggesting Maccabi fans had caused problems to justify its decision to ban them from the Europa League clash last Novemver, when the real issue was that extremist community groups in Birmingham were arming themselves to attack the Israeli football supporters.

This included using AI on Google to create information about a fictitious Maccabi game against West Ham as well as misrepresenting fans behaviour at an actual match in the Netherlands.

With Ms Mahmood unable to sack him, Mr Guildford was instead allowed by the Labour police and crime commissioner for the West Midlands Simon Foster to take early retirement.

To strengthen safeguards and ensure those unfit for policing are kept out of the profession, the government will also introduce laws to impose compulsory vetting standards for all forces.

It comes after a review found that more than 130 officers and staff within the Metropolitan Police, including two convicted serial rapists, had committed crimes or misconduct due to significant failures in the force’s vetting processes.

Also included in the new measures are powers to send experts from the best performing forces to those with poor crime solving rates or police response times, to help them catch more criminals.

Forces will also be directly accountable to the public, with new targets on 999 response times, victim satisfaction, public trust and confidence. These results will be published and forces graded so communities can compare.

The turnaround model has proved effective in local government to drive improvements in failing councils.

The failing Liverpool council was transformed by experts being sent to help the council and as a result they achieved a balanced budget after facing bankruptcy.

To further reinforce accountability, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary Fire and Rescue Services will gain statutory powers to issue directions when forces fail to act on his recommendations. 

In its own paper, the Tony Blair Institute, has said that the government white paper is a “defining moment” for the government and policing.

Ryan Wain, senior director of politics and policy, argued in his paper ‘Policing That Makes Britain Safer – Not Just Better at Counting Crime’ that the white paper must “deliver visible order, real capability and consistent competence”, public confidence can start to return, but if “it settles for incrementalism, it will not” – that “this is the choice Britain now faces.”

He also called for a UK-wide police force to lead on serious and organised crime, cybercrime and terrorism, and a national digital forensics agency that boosts capability in tackling digital crimes and recognises that digital evidence now sits at the heart of investigations.

Donald Trump has insulted and humiliated America’s closest allies

Donald Trump is a divisive figure. But with his careless, callous and disgraceful remarks about the service given by British and other allies in Afghanistan, he has succeeded in uniting nations – if only against him.

“A little off the front line” was the smear against Nato troops that he tossed into a television interview. Rather than concede that, after 9/11, many non-Americans made the ultimate sacrifice or suffered life-changing injuries when Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty was triggered – for the first and only time in the organisation’s 76-year history – by the United States.

So, far from never helping the US, as the commander-in-chief alleged, when it was needed in the global “war on terror”, the West, through Nato, stood united with America. When the then president George W Bush asked allies for support, it was freely given. It was also entirely within well-established international rules of law, and backed by a United Nations resolution.

For nearly 20 pitiless years, the blood of allied soldiers mingled in the streets of Kabul and the dust of Helmand province. It is worth recalling that, when the time came for the young Donald Trump to serve his country in Vietnam, he did not do so; instead, he received a medical exemption for bone spurs. His own war record speaks for itself.

Such is the president’s grim combination of vanity, childishness and insecurity, he has rarely been able to properly respect what he now likes to call “warriors”. When he was running for office in 2015, he mocked the late senator John McCain, suffering from a permanent disability after years of torturous captivity in Hanoi, because: “He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”

Yet, without shame, Mr Trump is the first civilian president to salute the national anthem in the military style, while downplaying the history of people of colour in and the valour of trans people today. What, the world should wonder, would Dwight Eisenhower have made of this man?

Either Mr Trump has forgotten relatively recent history, doesn’t care about it, or was merely displaying his customary lack of grace; but in any case, he crossed a line. It was no way for the head of state of any nation to behave.

For some reason, President Trump has made it his mission to insult and humiliate America’s closest friends and allies, nations that have fought as partners in countless conflicts over more than a century. To dishonour them is shame enough; to do so while appeasing the bullies and dictators of today is inexplicable.

Even if he thinks, misguidedly, that Europe isn’t worth defending and that America doesn’t need allies, he doesn’t need to try to justify that by disregarding sacrifice and history. The derangement, not for the first time, is all his. And all because Denmark and Greenland refused to allow him to occupy their territory and place their people, unwillingly, under American rule. The British, Danes and others were there when America called for help; despite everything, they will be there again for America in future.

Sir Keir Starmer, who is using increasingly forceful language towards the president, initially called his comments “wrong” – then later went much further, saying they were “insulting and frankly appalling”. His call for the president to apologise for his remarks signals a clear shift in tone and approach that will not have gone unnoticed.

The leader of the opposition, Kemi Badenoch, who has grown as a stateswoman during the Greenland crisis, was combative. Despite her party’s traditional affinity with the Republicans, and her desire to build a relationship of her own with Mr Trump, she too has demanded an apology, plus a retraction or at least a clarification. Other politicians and service people have done the same, and with barrack-room language.

Prince Harry, who served in Afghanistan, released a statement saying that British troops’ sacrifices “deserve to be spoken about truthfully and with respect”.

It has to be said that Mr Trump is unlikely to oblige the world with a retraction, and is more likely to double down on what we may call “fake history”. That is why it is difficult for Sir Keir to make such demands on Mr Trump.

In recent days, the prime minister’s pragmatic “quiet diplomacy” has been getting incrementally louder and more principled, and it has carried public opinion in Britain and had the necessary impact. He does not need to resort to histrionics, which would doubtless prove counterproductive.

The only prominent figure in British politics who failed immediately to condemn President Trump’s words was Nigel Farage. Our most performative patriot and amateur military historian curiously went awol when his friend disdained those who lost life and limb in Afghanistan. It is about time the leader of Reform UK put Britain, not America, first and revised his views on the Maga movement.

Mr Trump’s words were callous and hurtful, but it is at moments such as this that Britain should remember that the “special relationship” is old and enduring, and has never depended entirely on the personal chemistry between leaders, though that has sometimes helped. Nato and the transatlantic alliance as a whole, not to mention economic and cultural relationships with America, will survive Mr Trump’s fever dream of a presidency.

Yet the Greenland crisis has marked – as the Canadian prime minister Mark Carney put it this week – a “rupture”. It feels like things will never quite be the same again. It is obvious now that Europe will need to act together, and match words with cash and action – not least to help Ukraine win its war, or at least not lose it.

If the harsh contempt shown by President Trump has done any good, then it is to remind the world’s “middle powers”, as Mr Carney styles them, that they need to combine against the military superpowers that surround them and their interests: Japan, South Korea, Australia and Canada as much as Germany, France, Italy and Britain – all wealthy and technologically advanced and, in principle and in concert with smaller like-minded nations, more than a match for any adversaries.

When it won the Cold War, Nato proved that unity brings victory and avoids armed conflict through deterrence. To rebuild that kind of unconditional alliance is a duty with which the governments of what is left of the West can honour those who died for our freedom in wars past.