If Sir Keir Starmer is sincere about economic growth being his number one priority, isn’t he wasting a golden opportunity by not pulling out all the stops to secure a trade deal with America?
Donald Trump is the most pro-British President in living memory and every signal coming out of the White House indicates he is eager to strengthen the alliance between our two countries.
Having praised the Prime Minister for doing a ‘very good job’, he has let it be known that the UK, being an independent nation, might be exempt from the kind of punitive tariffs he is threatening to unleash on the EU.
He is effectively holding open the door to superior access to the world’s biggest economy. That would allow Britain to trade relatively freely with both the US and EU – a privileged position worth billions.
Sir Keir ought to be charging through it, dispatching our highest-powered delegation for talks immediately.
Donald Trump is the most pro-British President in living memory and every signal coming out of the White House indicates he is eager to strengthen the alliance between our two countries
Sir Keir ought to be charging through it, dispatching our highest-powered delegation for talks immediately
But, regrettably, he has so far snubbed Mr Trump’s overtures.Instead, the arch-Remainer appears to be crawling back to the EU.
While he hasn’t even yet appointed a trade envoy to the US, a 100-strong unit of civil servants has been tasked with unpicking Brexit.
The PM should tread carefully. If he is perceived to be taking the side of Europe against Mr Trump, Britain could be dragged into a crippling trade war.
That’s the last thing our stuttering economy needs.Commerce runs deep in our nation’s psyche.
We should want to do business with as many countries as possible. But it’s imperative we pursue our own interests.
The point of Brexit was to decouple the UK from the performance of our neighbours, allowing us to pivot towards fast-growing, dynamic economies elsewhere.
Sir Keir might believe that tying ourselves more closely to the stagnant EU will secure growth. In reality, it is akin to tying one’s feet to a brick in a swimming pool in order to achieve buoyancy.
Threat to free speech
On the day Reform UK topped the polls for the first time, it is reported that Angela Rayner plans to create an official definition of ‘Islamophobia’
On the day Reform UK topped the polls for the first time, it is reported that Angela Rayner plans to create an official definition of ‘Islamophobia’. Is this a coincidence?
We know Labour is desperate to attract back Muslim voters who deserted the party in their droves over its stance on Gaza. This ruse might be one way of appeasing them.But the potential ramifications are chilling.
Critics say it could amount to a blasphemy law by the back door, where legitimate criticism of Islam or the behaviour of individual Muslims could be stifled.
Could we tell jokes about Islam – no matter how irreverent? For centuries we have enjoyed the right to express our opinions and ridicule anyone, anything and any organisation – however disagreeable and offensive some may find it.
The law should apply equally – not single out individual religions for privileged protection. Otherwise the freedom of speech we hold so dear will be dead.
Unhealthy obsession
In what appears to be a refreshing blast of common sense, Wes Streeting admits that the NHS’s obsession with diversity and inclusion has ‘gone too far’.
But depressingly, the Health Secretary seems more keen on identifying this scourge of wokery than actually stamping it out.
He won’t axe jobs devoted to pushing a PC agenda, claiming they deliver some benefits. Indeed, the NHS is still recruiting them.The Health Service’s priority should be giving every patient quality care – not pandering to ideological hobby horses.
