In early november 2024‚ at a pre-election gathering Donald Trump gave special recognition to his long-time ally from across the Atlantic. While other European nations watch from afar Britain has a unique advantage - a direct line to the possible next US president
Nigel Farage the Reform UK leader stands ready to help: his friendship with Trump (which includes personal invites to Mar-a-Lago) could be key for future trade deals. The ex-UKIP leader suggests that post-brexit Britain can bypass tariffs through direct talks with trumps team
The situation puts Sir Keir Starmer in a tough spot - his party doesnt align with Trumpʼs views. Labourʼs David Lammy has made non-friendly statements about the ex-president; which creates an awkward setup for future diplomatic relations. The current government faces a choice: work with Farage or risk losing important US connections
Even though Starmer promised to put country first theres a complex reality to face. The left-wing base of his party wouldʼnt accept working with right-wing figures - even if it means better UK-US relations. Trump (whose mother came from Scotland) shows more interest in Britain than many previous presidents‚ but Labourʼs stance might affect future cooperation
The possibility of a state visit creates more questions than answers. While formal invitations might come through the King its likely that Trump would spend more time with his trusted friend Farage than with government officials: this could lead to some non-standard diplomatic situations