Where stands this country as the hinges come off the world order? The events, and declarations, of the last week or so have given the greatest signal yet that the Western world is entering a highly unsettling phase. What will that mean for us on our windswept isle, clinging to the west of Europe, dependent on the US for financial survival and European allies for defence?

The first thing to note is that Donald Trump is now behaving like a mad king. He instructs, those around him scurry off to respond, and the world falls into place.

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