Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends the Lord Mayor’s Banquet (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
As France stands on the edge of political and economic chaos, with Germany not far behind, now is the time to stand fast with the US. Yet calamity is dithering between the two.
Speaking at the annual Lord Mayor’s Banquet speech this week, dithered between the UK’s European and American alliances, refusing to favour either one. But he will be forced to decide in the end and he mustn’t allow ill judgement based on prejudice rather than practicality to lead the way.
The answer should be painstakingly obvious: we must embrace America – it offers both prosperity and security – and, right now, an open door for harmony. That was clear when called Britain “one of our most cherished and beloved allies” as he appointed a new ambassador to the UK.
Compare and contrast this with the latest crises engulfing EU countries. Plagued by debt and needing to raise taxes, France’s centrist government is facing a vote of no confidence this week with the hard Left and hard Right poised to take power.
At the same time, Germany’s coalition government has collapsed under the pressure of huge job losses thanks to its net zero agenda decimating its industrial base. Despite cosying up to earlier this year, the two leading nations of the EU are both looking weak and unstable.
In contrast, across the Atlantic, election victory was decisive, carrying the popular vote and both chambers of Congress. The president-elect has hit the ground running, appointing strident key figures to state departments.
will help reduce the US government’s vast expenditure on bureaucracy by enabling tax cuts that fire up American businesses. rejection of net zero constrictions will also enable the US to become an energy superpower, exporting liquid natural gas around the world, including to us when our own green energy infrastructure falters.
By doing all this, the US will become richer than ever before. Already Americans are a third richer than the average Briton with higher wages and lower taxes – and this gap is set to widen under Trump.
is no fan of the never-ending wars founded by the Democrats. has already said he will give up land for peace in and will press hard on this to end the drain on Western resources and bring peace to the region. Having already brought bitter foes together in the Abraham Accords, is well-positioned to end the current conflict in the Middle East by strongly backing and Arabs against Iran. In contrast, the EU has allowed the Palestinian cause to fester for decades with no resolution, even tripling its aid to after the attacks on . There’s no such mixed messaging from .
By making America great again, is strengthening the West against its rivals. Only wealthy countries can afford the arms and technology to keep its people safe. By intentionally making ourselves poorer by deindustrialising and paying more for energy thanks to net zero, Britain and the EU will be less able to shoulder this burden.
If does indeed levy tariffs on imported US foreign goods, should make the most of all connections with the new administration – especially – to press ahead on a trade deal with the US that would exclude any such tariffs. He shouldn’t waste time arguing the case for the declining EU. He’ll get no thanks for it.
As a sign of goodwill, should probably reshuffle the lamentable away from the Foreign Office. He should also not pursue a race to offload the strategically important Chagos Islands before takes office in January.
When Prime Minister Tony Blair first entered No 10 Downing Street in 1997, one of his early guests was former PM Margaret Thatcher and her most heartfelt advice to him was to stay close to the US. It had served her and the UK very well during her close alliance with President Reagan that oversaw the end of the Cold War and an enormous boom in Western capitalism.
should jettison any left-wing anti-American prejudices he still harbours and make sure he makes the most of positivity towards the UK. To that end, we extend a hearty welcome to the new US ambassador to the UK, Warren Stephens, and hope this is the beginning of a bountiful relationship between our two powers.