Sir Keir Starmer is right to maintain 'special relationship' with Donald Trump
Politicians can vent freely in opposition - but realpolitik applies in office
British prime ministers have long cherished the UK’s “special relationship” with the US and the influence it affords them on the world stage.
That relationship seemed destined to become more strained when Donald Trump won his second term as US president in November last year.
Just four months earlier, Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party won the UK general election by a landslide.
Much has been made in recent days of criticisms that were made of Mr Trump by senior Labour ministers while they were in opposition, including Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Ian Murray, the Secretary of State for Scotland.
So far, however, Sir Keir has managed to maintain good relations with the US president, having in February, in front of the world’s media in the Oval Office, handed him an invitation from the King for a state visit later this year.
Since then Mr Trump has spoken warmly of Sir Keir, and indeed First Minister John Swinney, who will also meet the US president this week.
If the Prime Minister was not on good terms with the US president, it is less likely the latter would take much notice of what the former had to say.
Talks on Gaza and Ukraine
When Sir Keir and Mr Trump meet in Turnberry today they are expected to discuss hopes for a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to the war in Ukraine.
It is of important that a British prime minister is in a position to influence the leader of the free world on matters such as these.
It matters that Sir Keir is able to impress on Mr Trump the views of the British people on the situation in Gaza and Ukraine.
And it matters to the UK economy that the Prime Minister is able to secure as favourable a trade agreement as possible with the US president.
Unburdened by office, opposition politicians can vent freely on whatever they like, but realpolitik dictates our elected leaders must always consider the bigger picture.
For this reason, Sir Keir is right to make every effort to keep the UK-US relationship special.
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