UK Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith has called on Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to redirect his plane from Brussels to Washington DC to address growing tensions with US President Donald Trump. Mr Griffith argued that the UK should prioritize its relationship with the US due to the ongoing tariffs imposed by Mr Trump on Canada and Mexico.
The shadow business secretary stated that the UK economy needs “all the help it can get” at the moment, citing declining business confidence and tax increases in the chancellor’s budget. He emphasized that free trade is crucial for the UK, which largely avoids trade deficits with the US.
Mr Griffith urged the government to seek closer ties with the US, their largest trading partner, as a means of addressing economic challenges. In contrast, he believes that the existing EU trade deal provides sufficient support. The Labour government aims to reset its relationship with the EU, focusing on key areas such as defence, security, energy, and trade.
The UK’s home secretary, Yvette Cooper, also expressed concerns about the impact of Mr Trump’s tariffs on global growth and trade. However, she noted that the focus is on building stronger relationships with both the US and the European Union to promote trade links and remove barriers to commerce.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/starmer-should-be-rediverting-his-plane-to-us-to-see-trump-instead-of-flying-to-eu-talks-says-shadow-business-secretary-13301651