Key Takeaways:
– British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, conceded to President Trump’s election victory before Kamala Harris.
– Labour Party desperately wanted a Harris win, with Sir Keir Starmer sending his top aides to aid her campaign efforts.
– Past verbal attacks on President Trump by members of the Labour Party occurred, including hostile statements from David Lammy and Wes Streeting.
– Labour’s stance on climate change puts them at odds with President Trump’s pledge to withdraw from the Paris climate agreement.
– Labour’s recent massive budget increase conflicts with Trump’s supply-side economics.
The response of British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to President Trump’s election win was quite tepid. In an early morning post, he acknowledged Trump’s victory with words that reflected a certain reluctance. The Labour party he leads had heavily backed Kamala Harris and was actively involved in campaigning for her win. This lukewarm concession may reflect Labour’s disappointment in the U.S election results.
Labour’s Efforts for a Harris Win
Earlier on in July, Sir Keir Starmer clinched a comfortable majority in the House of Commons, despite only getting 33.7 percent of the popular vote. Swiftly thereafter, Sofia Patel, the Labour Party’s head of operations, called upon the party’s staffer to put efforts into helping the United States elect their first female president.
Paving the Path to U.S
Continuing to ensure this victory, top aides from Starmer’s team, such as Morgan McSweeney, Labour’s campaign strategist, and Matthew Doyle, Downing Street’s director of communication, flew to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Their mission was to brief the Harris team, to ultimately aid her campaign. However, these efforts were at a loss as the team’s advice did not significantly impact the Harris campaign.
Labour’s Past Animosity Against Trump
There are many documented incidents of the Labour Party’s hostility towards the newly elected president. In a 2019 tweet, Starmer openly criticised Boris Johnson over his endorsement from Donald Trump. Starmer framed the endorsement as exposing the flaws in Johnson’s leadership. Even harsher is the criticism from Wes Streeting, who now serves as Starmer’s Health Secretary. He openly targeted Trump and American citizens who took pride in Trump’s electorate win.
The most blistering criticisms, however, came from David Lammy, the foreign secretary. His education at the renowned Harvard Law School may have intensified his words against Trump. He unequivocally showcased his objection to Trump’s visit to the UK, calling him out as a racist and sympathiser to notorious hate groups. His dissatisfaction extends beyond Trump, also honing in on Steve Bannon and what he perceives to be a propagation of white supremacy.
Labour vs Trump Administration
On top of the personal grievances, a major point of contention is the labour government’s stance on climate change. Ed Miliband, Labour’s climate change secretary, is a staunch advocate for achieving net-zero emissions. This clashes fundamentally with Trump’s pledge to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate agreement. Moreover, Trump’s supply-side economics sharply contrasts with the Labour party’s recent budget increase, causing a gulf in policy alignment.
In spite of personal attacks and policy disagreements, it’s hopeful that both nations can set their differences aside, and work towards a fruitful diplomatic relationship. One must remember that politics are just one aspect of international relations, and the United Kingdom and United States must work together on broader global cooperation.