Good morning. As the Labour authorities tries to work out what having Donald Trump once more inside the White House will suggest for Britain, and what it ought to do in response, David Lammy is completely on the centre of that debate. Partly that’s because of he’s worldwide secretary, and partly it’s because of (in a crowded self-discipline) he’s most likely the British MP who has been most outspoken and important about Trump thus far.
Lammy has now given an prolonged interview to the BBC’s Newscast podcast to debate these factors. And, as Jamie Grierson tales, he dismissed concepts that his earlier diatribes about Trump would hurt the connection now by describing his suggestions as “old news”.
But Lammy moreover pushed once more in opposition to concepts that Trump’s election might be wholly unfavourable and he talked about it may also present “opportunities” for Britain.
Asked if he accepted that Trump’s election had made life “harder” for the UK authorities, Lammy talked about they’d undoubtedly be “different”. But, when it was put to him that he was merely being diplomatic, Lammy didn’t accept that. He talked about he wanted to make two components.
The very very first thing is to say that, on the whole, worldwide protection is far much less partisan than residence protection. And that’s the case inside the American system as lots because it’s in our system.
The second issue to say is, positive, there shall be variations and there shall be areas the place we disagree actually, I feel.
But there are moreover options and we shouldn’t underestimate the options that there shall be as successfully. And we should always seize these.
Lammy talked about he thought Trump was correct to argue that Europe wished to spend further on defence. Asked about claims that the British financial system might be harmed by the tariffs that Trump plans to impose, Lammy suggested that might be counter-productive for the US, and he suggested that the UK might have the power to get exemptions. He moreover talked about that in worldwide protection there might be areas the place the UK and a Trump administration had widespread pursuits.
In a world the place there’s warfare in Europe, the place there’s an unimaginable lack of life inside the Middle East, the place the US and the UK genuinely have a selected relationship, the place we obtained anyone who’s about to turn into as soon as extra the US president who has experience of doing the job closing time spherical, we’ll forge widespread pursuits. We will agree and align on lots and, the place we disagree, we’ll have these conversations as successfully, most ceaselessly in personal.
I’ll put up further from the interview rapidly.
Otherwise, it seems to be like like a relatively quiet day. Parliament is in recess. Ed Davey, the Lib Dem chief, is due to be talking about Ukraine all through a go to later. And the Reform UK Welsh conference goes down in Newport, the place Nigel Farage is due to converse at 5pm.
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