Downing Street and the lobby hacks are spinning Starmer’s meeting with Trump in DC as resounding victory. Though as Guido pointed out last night, Trump didn’t rule out UK tariffs, JD Vance clashed with Starmer over free speech and Trump made a joke about whether Britain could defend itself against Russia “on its own”. The President even took a swipe at the PM—cutting him off mid-answer with a blunt “that’s enough”…
To curry favor with the President, Starmer made much noise about offering Trump a second State visit with the King—something he repeatedly called “unprecedented.” Though back in 2017, Labour’s then-shadow ministers tried to block Trump from speaking in Parliament. The majority of the current Cabinet signed that Early Day Motion:
Wes Streeting was out on the media round today saying he won’t be blocking Trump’s visit again, though coyly admitted on GB News not everyone “agrees” with it. Co-conspirators will remember Starmer and his top team’s long history of anti-Trump rhetoric. Quite the change of tune now…
Paula Barker, Liverpool Wavertree MP backing Andy Burnham, told Times Radio there wouldn’t be trouble from the markets under Burnham:
“The markets will have to fall in line.”