How Starmer is trumping EU on deals with president

When it comes to trade agreements with the US, the PM is succeeding where others are failing, writes David Maddox

- By David Maddox

As Ursula von der Leyen left Scotland last weekend with the ink still drying on the US-EU trade deal she had just signed with Donald Trump, the reception in European capitals was beyond gloomy.

As Ursula von der Leyen left Scotland last weekend with the ink still drying on the US-EU trade deal she had just signed with Donald Trump, the reception in European capitals was beyond gloomy. After all the posturing, and threats of counter-tariffs, Ms Von der Leyen had signed a deal which was roundly criticised by a long line of leaders including German chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said the agreement would “substantially damage” his nation’s finances, and French prime minister Francois Bayrou, who described it as tantamount to “submission”.

Hungary’s Viktor Orban, an outspoken critic of the EU leadership, said Trump “ate Von der Leyen for breakfast”.

But there was one question which diplomats and government heads were asking all over Europe: “How did Keir Starmer get a better deal than us?”

Not only is the EU still paying 15 per cent tariffs, but it has now agreed to spend billions purchasing energy resources from the US. This compared to the 10 per cent tariffs for the UK.

A seasoned diplomat of an EU member state told The Independent there was “anger” about what had happened. The fact that the UK “appears to be rewarded for Brexit” also really stung.