PM will 'act in national interest over high tariffs'

Diplomats now say Starmer, who has refused to issue a word of criticism of Trump since his return to the White House, must be prepared to retaliate or run the risk that the US president simply deploys the same tactic again and again, knowing his opponent will not fight back.

- 

Speaking to the Observer, the former UK ambassador to Washington Kim Darroch said Starmer should learn from the experience over recent days of the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney, who appears to have softened Trump's tariff threat by warning of strong Canadian retaliation and making clear his displeasure at the US president over this threats towards his country's sovereignty an approach that has lifted his Liberal party substantially in the polls. Carney said: "It is clear that the United States is no longer a reliable partner."