The mood of Keir Starmer’s foreign policy advisers was funereal as they contemplated the return of Donald Trump. The weeks since Trump’s inauguration have shown that the government doesn’t know what to do with an American president who is hostile, capricious and, let’s face it, more than a little mad, except humour him as one might humour a screaming toddler.
Labour cannot attack Farage’s Trump worship for fear of alienating Washington
Who knows? Maybe that will work. Maybe all Starmer needs to do is flatter Trump, toss in a visit to Buckingham Palace and a banquet with the King, and the rheumy Eye of Sauron will move away from Britain and on to its next target. For, as things stand, there is no diplomatic strategy beyond hoping for the best.
The journalist’s cliché about living in “unprecedented” times is accurate for once. Since the Suez crisis of 1956, no UK government has seriously contemplated how it would manage in the world without the American alliance.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in