Blow to special relationship as David Lammy hurls insult at Trump | UK | News
David Lammy insulted Donald Trump as he responded to the president’s attacks on Sir Keir Starmer, calling them “petty and insignificant” and accusing the US President of using personal insults as a tool for Britain to pressure Iran; meanwhile he made clear that London had no intention of being drawn into the conflict.
The Foreign Secretary said a leader like Trump should not disagree with allies through diplomatic channels, arguing that Washington’s behavior was “making things worse, not better” in an already unstable world.
Ties between the two countries were badly frayed during the conflict; The President has repeatedly publicly targeted the Prime Minister for refusing to put British military resources behind the US campaign. Most importantly, Trump dismissed Starmer as “no Winston Churchill” over the Prime Minister’s refusal to allow US planes to use UK bases in the early days of attacks on Iran.
Lammy’s Washington mission
Determined to lower the temperature and impress upon Washington the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the planet’s energy and cargo passes, Lammy traveled to the American capital last week, meeting with Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Breaking his silence on those discussions, Lammy said he had “no doubt” that American politicians appreciated the economic devastation caused by the conflict “purely in their own self-interest” and noted that Vance was extremely conscious of household expenses as the midterm elections approached.
Labour’s anti-Trump legacy
Before he became Foreign Secretary, David Lammy branded Trump a “tyrant” and a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathizing sociopath”.
When pressed on his remarks by the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, Lammy refused to apologize, saying he was “looking forward” and not “looking back”.
Despite past inflammatory comments, he insisted he would be “gracious” to Trump during his state visit to the UK and said he “enjoyed” meeting the US President in New York in September alongside Sir Keir, describing Trump as “a very gracious host” with whom the group shared “good discussions” and had “some laughs”.
“On behalf of the British people, I will do everything possible in our national interest, and that means working with our close ally. And just as he has shown kindness to me, I will show kindness to him,” Lammy said.
“That’s how I was brought up in the great part of London called Tottenham and the great city of Peterborough, and you are kind to those who are kind to you.”
Labour’s troubled history with Trump is not limited to Lammy. In 2016, Sir Keir described Trump’s comments as “disgusting” and “offensive, shocking and disturbing”.
Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel called on the Government to rebuild bridges with Washington, warning: “Keir Starmer and David Lammy must now work twice as hard to repair the damage caused by their immature and reckless statements.”
He added: “There are many things the Conservative Party and President Trump agree on, particularly the challenges our countries face in protecting our borders, combating illegal immigration, and increasing defense spending.”
Dame Priti said “the importance of our relationship with the United States cannot be overstated” and noted that Trump’s election offers “exciting new opportunities” in the coming years.
Starmer under siege
A potential diplomatic opening emerged on Sunday when Trump announced that American negotiators would take another step toward a negotiated solution to Pakistan this week. But he coupled the announcement with a stern warning: If Tehran left the table, the US would “decommission” all power plants in Iran. The throat remains closed.
In the country, the Prime Minister is fighting on a completely separate front. Sir Keir faces growing demands for him to resign over the circumstances surrounding Lord Mandelson’s appointment as Britain’s man in Washington; It’s a saga that has consumed Westminster for weeks and shows no signs of abating.
Writing to Sir Keir on Sunday, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of belittling parliament and signaled that he expected full and plain answers when he appeared before MPs. He encouraged her to “give us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.”
The incident took an even more damaging turn when it was revealed that Downing Street had received a detailed briefing document on Mandelson compiled by the Cabinet Office long before the vetting process was completed. The document cast doubt on his fitness for office, raised sharp questions about his business activities in China and expressed dismay at the glossy terms he used to describe a private transaction with Xi Jinping – an accountant described as “flashy”.
