He has worked in the US, he owns a beachfront apartment in California, he has a Stanford MBA, and he has, or had, a green card, which entitles its holder to live and work in America. His evident enthusiasm for the country also makes him that rare creature: a Brit who not only understands and appreciates the United States and what makes it tick, but can hack it on the other side of the Atlantic. His affinity with America is plain for all to see. His first official visit to Washington this week should have been a triumph.
Alas, for three reasons, he is unlikely to hit the spot. The first is that his political opponents have made hay with Sunak's links to the US - especially, and ignorantly, the green card (which they misrepresented as an alternative passport) - to imply disloyalty to the UK, and to insinuate that he had a ready-made springboard to a transatlantic future should his political career in the UK not work out. For the sake of parochial British politics, he now cannot afford to appear too "American".
Secondly, there's the limited time he is likely to be in office - his US interlocutors will be as much aware of this as are his allies and enemies back home.
But the third and most important reason is that he has simply been highly unlucky with "his" US president. You can imagine Sunak finding an immediate common language with a JFK or an Obama, and (slightly less so) with his fellow MBA, George W Bush. But Joe Biden? The age gap, and therefore the difference in life experience, is almost 40 years. The disparity in manner, political priorities, and - insofar as can be judged from appearances - character, is huge.
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin June 09, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye The Independent dergisinin June 09, 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Leclerc lays curse to make it a Monaco home win at last
Under the blazing Mediterranean sunshine and crisp blue skies on this most prestigious of racing Sundays, this famed principality’s prodigal son finally realised his day of days.
Wembley exposed the flaws in City's unbeatable facade
Pep Guardiola identified the culprit, the man who cost Manchester City the double.
Saints hit jackpot as Leeds fail to escape play-off woe
After the expensive relegation, the lucrative promotion. Southampton contrived to finish bottom of the Premier League in a year when they spent some £160m, had three managers and only mustered six wins.
WHEN OASIS DRIED UP
Twenty years ago, the band played a disastrous Glastonbury show which, says Mark Beaumont, marked the beginning of the end for Liam and Noel Gallagher's Britpop dream
Would you take financial advice from a reality star?
As celebs from popular UK shows such as 'Love Island' and 'Geordie Shore' are charged with promoting an unauthorised foreign exchange scheme, Katie Rosseinsky delves into the dubious world of 'finfluencers' and their Instagram followers
PREMIUM BOND
Fans of 007 are rifling through car boots and sniping on eBay auctions to collect coveted memorabilia. Now, with Aaron Taylor-Johnson poised to take the role, a space on the shelf awaits.
Babies among dozens killed in fires across Indian capital
At least 37 people, including several children, were killed ina series of fires in a 24-hour period as India battles a brutal heatwave. Seven newborn babies died after a children’s hospital caught fire in the national capital Delhi, while another blaze in a residential complex in the city killed three people.
Modi courts young millions as poll momentum falters
In a bid to broaden its appeal, India's ruling party is pumping out online games, TV parodies and cartoons carrying divisive messages.
IDF airstrikes hit ‘safe area' in Rafah killing at least 35
At least 35 people were killed and dozens more were injured ina city in the southern area of Gaza, Palestinian authorities said yesterday.
Russian strike on Kharkiv shopping centre kills 14 as Zelensky calls for Western support
Ukrainian officials have said 44 people were injured while seven people remain missing