Laying on charm for Trump is a diplomatic necessity

Peter Mandelson has learned that favours for, and loyalty to, a sex offender can end a sticky career. Keir Starmer, this week, is bringing the King himself into a bid to charm another American who's been found liable for sexual assault, convicted of felonies, and is a serial bankrupt.

- SAM KILEY WORLD AFFAIRS EDITOR

Mandelson oiled up to Jeffrey Epstein because Britain's former ambassador to Washington has always seemingly been mesmerised by power and money.

Starmer has organised Donald Trump's state visit, pomp, parades and banquets as a strategic necessity - to wean the US president off the Russian teat. To protect Britain's economy from the US president. And to protect the UK and Europe from a surge in Trumpian ideologues at home.

Trump, for now, has slapped the UK with 10 per cent tariffs on top of existing import duties. The EU, a bigger US market, has been hit with tariffs of 20 to 50 per cent. So keeping the US president sweet is financially wise.

Trump will today be afforded the singular honour of a second state visit to the United Kingdom. The invitation from the King was hand-delivered to the Oval Office by the British prime minister.

Trump is no Roosevelt, no Kennedy, no Eisenhower. He is not a great US president whom the British want to flatter with the geegaws and frippery of mounted parades and white tie dinners.