Yet the prime minister is about to ape one of Johnson's favourite ploys by trying to have his cake and eat it.
Starmer faces an agonising dilemma: when Donald Trump returns to the White House, he is expected to impose tariffs of between 10 per cent and 20 per cent on all imports to the US (with a 60 per cent tariff on China). Should the UK try to secure a carve-out, perhaps by negotiating a trade deal with the US? Or should Starmer join forces with the EU, which will almost certainly impose tit-for-tat tariffs on American goods?
On the face of it, the PM will have to choose between alienating the world’s most powerful leader – just as the UK tries to preserve the much-vaunted special relationship – and jeopardising his drive to reset relations with the EU to aid the UK economy.
Trump might well try to impose what opinion pollsters call a “forced choice” on the UK, with no “don’t know” option. But ministers tell me Starmer regards it as a false choice. “The goal is to lean into the US without alienating the EU,” one insider said. “But it will be very difficult to achieve.”
This story is from the November 16, 2024 edition of The Independent.
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This story is from the November 16, 2024 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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