November 6th 2024.
Keir Starmer has recently spoken about his positive relationship with Donald Trump. Despite remaining neutral during the US presidential election, Starmer's government may have found a victory for Kamala Harris to be less awkward for them. This is because there have been some disparaging comments made about Trump by Labour ministers in the past, which have resurfaced in recent months.
For example, Health Secretary Wes Streeting once referred to the president-elect as an "odious, sad little man", while Foreign Secretary David Lammy went even further and called him a "woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath". As a result, Labour figures are now facing questions about these sentiments and whether they still hold them. But beyond that, there is also speculation about what Trump's win could mean for the country.
A lot of this speculation revolves around Sir Keir's personal relationship with the Republican. The Prime Minister insists that their relationship is healthy, citing a friendly dinner they shared at Trump Tower in September. According to a story in the Sunday Times, Trump even told Starmer at the end of the meal, "You and I are friends." It seems that Foreign Secretary David Lammy also hit it off with Trump, as he studied at Harvard University and feels comfortable among American politicians.
However, things may have changed since then. Last month, the Trump campaign filed a legal complaint against the Labour Party and the rival Harris campaign, accusing them of "blatant foreign interference" in the election. This complaint stemmed from a disagreement over Labour staff traveling to the US to support the Democrats, which has been a common practice for many years. While some dismissed this as a political stunt, it raised questions about the state of relations between Trump's team and the UK's government.
In addition to the potential impact on relations between the two countries, there are also concerns about Trump's broader policies. This includes his plans to impose tariffs on all imports, which would have a significant effect on the world economy as other countries retaliate and supply chains are disrupted. Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds has indicated that the government is preparing for the implications of these measures, as the UK exported £188.2 billion worth of goods to the US in the last year.
There are also uncertainties surrounding Trump's approach to handling Russia's war in Ukraine. He has previously expressed his belief that he could end the conflict in one day, but this could mean reaching a deal that heavily favors Moscow over Kyiv. Additionally, there are concerns about the future of NATO, as Trump has threatened to withdraw from the military alliance in the past. This could potentially lead to a more isolated US and a greater role for the UK in European security.
However, as we have seen in the first four years of Trump's presidency, one thing is certain – his unpredictability. This means that the UK, like the rest of the world, will need to brace itself for four more years of not knowing what to expect.
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