Political trip for Starmer could face early end
Donald Trump, the former US President, paid a visit to London, marking a significant event in UK-US relations. The visit was attended by Prime Minister Keir Starmer and King Charles, and was filled with business announcements, investment pledges, and diplomatic manoeuvres.
One of the highlights of the visit was the signing of a Technology Prosperity Deal between the two nations. This deal is expected to boost the tech, life sciences, and energy sectors in the UK. A staggering £30 billion in investment from US tech firms was announced during the visit.
However, not all was smooth sailing. Trump expressed a disagreement with Starmer over the recognition of a Palestine state, a contentious issue that has been a point of contention between the two leaders. Trump's 10 percent tariffs on Scotch whisky and pending tariffs on pharmaceuticals were not publicly addressed during the visit. The steel and aluminum industry tariffs imposed by the US in March also remained unchanged.
Gavin Barwell, former No. 10 chief of staff, warned that Starmer's progress on Ukraine could 'unravel' once Trump returns to the US. Barwell speculated that a visit from the King or Prince of Wales to the US might be considered as an alternative to another Trump state visit.
The visit was not without its supporters. Another Labour backbench MP, Luke Akehurst, praised Starmer for building a good working relationship with Trump. Michael Martins, an economic adviser, suggested that both sides were satisfied with the state visit and press conference.
Yet, others are reserving judgement until they have scrutinised the details of the deals. The U.K. government's PR machine highlighted the investment during the state visit, but the long-term impact remains to be seen.
Trump promised a continued friendship between Britain and the US, stating that the two nations have done more good on the planet than any two nations in history. Behind the public bonhomie, there are still dangers ahead for Starmer, as the visit has reignited debates about Trump's controversial policies and their implications for the UK.
This report was contributed by Graham Lanktree, Tom Bristow, Joe Bambridge, Dan Bloom, and Emilio Casalicchio.
