Joe Biden may not be ‘great friend’ to UK claims Farage

Sir Keir has come out in force in support of the US’ new President Joe Biden. Before the inauguration the Labour leader used a speech to describe himself as “pro-American but anti-Trump”. He said he was committed to a new US-UK relationship, consisting of “a strong future together, on everything from security, climate change, aid and trade”.

He even found room to make a sly jab at Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his US talk at the Fabian Society, who he condemned for “cosying up to people who don’t have Britain’s interests at heart – thumbing his nose at our friends, breaking international law and courting the idea that he’s ‘Britain’s Trump'”.

Sir Keir said that under a Labour Government, Britain would strive to act as a “moral force for good in the world” after “a decade of global retreat” under the Conservatives.

The message was seen by many as the beginning of Sir Keir and Mr Biden’s relationship, with the Democrat’s considered Labour’s transatlantic sister party.

Paul Embery, a leading trade unionist and Labour member, told Express.co.uk that the two will now “hit it off”, hinting at a possible political alliance in the future that could leave Mr Johnson behind.

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He said: “I think they’ll hit it off, they’ll be good pals, there’s no doubt about that.

“Labour has always been more inclined towards the Democrats – the Republicans are seen as more aligned to the Tories.

“There’s a natural political connection and Biden will likely be an easier character to deal with than Trump.

“And I think Biden and Starmer are two professional operators and will, both on a personal and political level, make a quick bond and have a good working relationship.”

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Before the inauguration there was talk that Lisa Nandy, the Shadow Foreign Secretary, would attend Mr Biden’s swearing in, although this never happened.

Ms Nandy has spent the last nine months communicating with members of the Democratic Party and those who helped Mr Biden win the election, according to The Sunday Times.

Speaking at the event, Sir Keir also attempted to draw a line between his and Mr Johnson’s Europe policies, stressing his intention to work closely with the EU.

This is despite him ruling out any chance of taking the UK closer to the EU in the future during an Andrew Marr interview earlier this month.

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He has drawn criticism from many pro-Remain members of the Labour Party in recent months after refusing to commit to renegotiating Mr Johnson’s “thin” Brexit deal.

On the future relationship with the EU, he told the Fabian Society he wanted the UK to be “the bridge between the US and the rest of Europe,” and said: “I want that to be a close economic relationship, rooted in our values, based on high standards and with protections for businesses, for working people and the environment.

“Of course, Boris Johnson will never do that, he wants something completely different from Brexit. And we’re already seeing that workers’ rights are at risk, the 48-hour week and the Working Time Directive could be ripped up.”

While Sir Keir and Mr Biden appear to be natural allies, Mr Embery said the Democrat is unlikely to promote the Labour leader’s cause.

He said: “I don’t think Biden will endorse Starmer in 2024.

“Presidents and Prime Ministers always take a step back before being seen to interfere in other people’s elections.”

However, he added: “But privately, instinctively, Biden will feel sympathy with Starmer and the Labour Party – the two of them share a lot of their politics.”

Relations between the US and UK have historically played out positively, even when the opposing side is in power.

None better was this demonstrated than during Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair and Republican President George W Bush’s administrations, which was characterised by both strong personal and political friendship.

Their delicate relationship, it has been noted, shaped the future political climate of both the UK and the US, as the pair ventured together into the Iraq War.

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