UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stood at the Lord Mayor’s Banquet to deliver a message on foreign policy. He declared it “plain wrong” to suggest that Donald Trump’s return to the White House would mean Britain must choose between deepening ties with Europe or cosying up to the US. Instead, Starmer pledged again to “rebuild our ties with Europe” while also investing in the ‘special relationship’ with America. Unlikely to win applause from Trump’s Republican allies, who argue Britain should reject the EU’s “socialist model” entirely.
Starmer also defended his push for deeper ties with China, saying it was “remarkable” he was the first Prime Minister to meet Xi Jinping face-to-face in 6 years. Meanwhile, Starmer has been warned he’s putting the UK on a “direct collision course” with Trump for cosying up to Beijing.
Starmer did however offer kind words for the President-elect, describing Trump as “gracious” during their meeting at Trump Tower. Though Starmer’s own record of comments about Trump is a little less gracious:
- 2019: Starmer said “An endorsement from Donald Trump tells you everything you need to know about what is wrong with (former PM) Boris Johnson’s politics and why he isn’t fit to be Prime Minister.“
- 2020: Starmer said Trump is not the man “to lead the world” during Coronavirus.
- 2020: Starmer attacked Dominic Cummings (former communications director for Boris) for using the “tactics of Donald Trump.“
- 2021: Starmer attacked Boris of being “Britain’s Trump.”
Labour cabinet ministers have been even harsher, labelling Trump – among other pleasantries – a “misogynist”, “racist”, and even a “neo-Nazi”. Some still refuse to deny the charge outright. As Nigel Farage says, Starmer needs to be rolling out the red carpet for Trump if he’s serious about strengthening the special relationship.
Time will tell…
