Sam Leith Sam Leith

Why is Keir Starmer pretending he ‘likes and respects’ Donald Trump?

Keir Starmer and Donald Trump in the White House (Getty images)

Anyone who relishes the humiliation of Sir Keir Starmer – and I know that in this respect, if only this one, many Spectator readers will make common cause with the supporters of Jeremy Corbyn – was presented with a delicacy this weekend. Here was a humiliation so exquisite, so public and so unrecoverable-from, that you could use it instead of Vermouth to flavour a martini.

The British Prime Minister told the New York Times, with every semblance of earnestness, that he ‘likes and respects’ Donald Trump – and saw that interview blazoned internationally.

‘On a person-to-person basis, I think we have a good relationship,’ Starmer said

‘On a person-to-person basis, I think we have a good relationship,’ he told the paper. ‘I like and respect him. I understand what he’s trying to achieve.’ Sir Keir, I expect, cherishes his self-image as a truthful person. And there cannot be a human being alive – not even Donald Trump – who will believe that the PM either likes or respects the US president.

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