Can Starmer stay close to Trump and his own party?

Is Keir Starmer’s apparently still strong relationship with Donald Trump a strength or a weakness?

- SEAN O'GRADY

Normally, getting on with the president of the United States, especially one with a similar outlook on the world, is something of an asset, both personally and for the relevant party. But in the case of Trump, whose actions are increasingly at odds with traditional Western values as he abandons long-established conventions and continues to weaken the Atlantic alliance, that asset is becoming a bit of a problem domestically...

What's our beef?

Well, most obviously the attack on Venezuela, which was clearly a breach of international law - and the increasingly menacing noises from Trump about why America “needs Greenland”, formally part of Denmark, for reasons of national security. Neither of these things has proved popular within the Labour Party, or indeed with anyone else much.

In addition, there are trade tensions, most recently over the Technology Prosperity Deal and the possibility of Britain importing American produce such as chlorinated chickens and hormone-treated beef (disliked by farmers and many consumers). Plus crucial differences over Ukraine and the Middle East.

What can Starmer do?