The Brits are SO smart.

Yes but Russia will also take a cut. Why else has Russia agreed to a ceasefire? Trump is business first and foremost he doesn't do war. If a deal can be made he is in on it. Putin and Trump are the winners whilst we pay for security that is not needed, as Trump well knows, as he is giving Putin the resources to stop the war.

Europe does not have any power and Russia and the US are now once again world leaders and enjoying every second of it.

From what has been released of the ‘agreement’ it is nothing more than an agreement to agree a future agreement. It has placated the US for now and can be null and void at any time if the US doesn’t provide security guarantees. Very clever of Ukraine to do it this way!

That’s my take on it too.

I am on one hand terrified by the people around Trump and on the other pretty sure he will fall out with most of them rapidly. Anthony Scaramucci describes very well what a balancing act Trump requires and virtually no one succeeds in staying on his right side. However others will emerge, possibly even worse if that’s possible, and Vance is just appalling in the wings.

I don’t think the “special relationship” particularly depends on the two leaders currently in office. Our armed forces work with US forces day in and day out as do the intelligence services. Then there’s the financial markets and other numerous industries and businesses that have a presence in the US and UK. The political leaders are transitory.

Okay there are a lot things on the table in terms of geopolitical concerns but the idea that Trump or indeed Musk have views on British farming is really not tenable,

You might be interested to know that the US indicated that it would not press for things like chlorinated chicken or hormone beef to be included. The issue is likely to be food that is genetically modified.

Its called diplomacy.

His mother WAS Scottish, so he is half Scottish, whether the SNP like that or not.

Trump may have his hand on the bow but Musk is the one moving his arm

Yes, I noticed how much "Trump speak" the PM was using. He was pressing all of Trump's buttons in a very calculated way. Well played.

And while I understand the comments from people who thought it was embarrassing - it was humiliating for Starmer and the UK in many ways - I think it's actually far more embarrassing for the US to have a president that can be so transparently manipulated.

I don’t think Trump will forget all the comments made by various labour politicians. I wonder who is playing who?

I think what alot of people havent factored in is that for some Americans their link to their British/Scottish/Welsh and Irish ancestry is really really important to them, and forms a huge part of their identity, even if they have never visited.
Trumps mother has scottish roots. He has golf courses there, most likely to strengthen his idea of those roots, so acceptance from the motherland is a big deal.

I think in his own strange way Trump has showed his loyalty to the RF by keeping Harry but dissing Meghan. He knew the RF would despair if he sent Harry back to the UK, but equally didn’t want to look like he approves of H&M and what they did.

We absolutely need to work on this relationship, it’s time for William to step up and practice his golf skills.

And as I said the SNP need to swallow their British-funded pride and offer a Scottish visit with bagpipes, castle tours and some kind of Highland activity.

Trump has indicated a mild fondness for the UK beyond that of any other country, so we would be fools to act like a petulant child.

How will all that pomp and flattery work out for us when we ‘win’ a one sided trade deal and our farmers get shafted, again?

Trump is playing us like a fucking fiddle and we’re playing a dangerous game.

Macron and Starmer are showing how to manage up

Musk clearly has some massive hold (financial, information?) over not just Trump but the republicans more generally. There's no way in a normal political dynamic the whole cabinet would sit quietly while Trump joked about "throwing them out" if they said they didn't like Musk. There's something quite massively wrong

@madamweb - that is very true.

We have to consider our own interests in all of this. We do have something Trump values. So we’ve offered it up. Pomp and flattery.

Of course we must use what we have. We have a unique asset. It’s going to be hard for David Lammy! The King will be fully briefed. Maybe Melania will get a tour of the jewellery vaults! We can hopefully find something to interest her.

We don’t though have any special relationship. That’s why we are working hard to keep our heads above water. I’m wondering if the US bases will stay here?

Exactly. People only see what they want to see and are so blinded by their dislike of Trump that they can't see anything else.

Or Kemi Badenoch, trying to cosplay Margaret Thatcher.

It genuinely made me want to throw up and I agree with those saying that Starmer hasn't done this in isolation. I'm terrified for the future and the speed at which global politics is descending into the void, we need diplomacy more than ever.

We are showing leadership- protecting Europe from further invasion by Russia.

While I do think this was diplomatic theatre, my concern is that Trump, like other megalomaniacs, will only be satisfied with appeasement for so long.

If this buys the UK and Europe time to come up with a stronger and more cohesive strategy for dealing with him then so be it. However, after the ASMR shackle video and Trump Gaza I found it very difficult to watch any legitimising of his regime.

in the meantime, as a personal citizen, I will be boycotting US products (except Ben and Jerry’s), avoiding travel to the US and I will be exercising my right to protest peacefully when this visit happens.

I don't think we should oversell it because what was it, a few hours to influence things in a way that UK would like, and in those terms successful. The actual terms of deals and outcomes takes months to do so let's see.

This country needs investment and growth. We are right out of luck if we look to the EU to help on that so I admire the pragmatic attitude displayed.

I never thought it was because they liked each other.

Musk clearly has some massive hold (financial, information?) over not just Trump but the republicans more generally. There's no way in a normal political dynamic the whole cabinet would sit quietly while Trump joked about "throwing them out" if they said they didn't like Musk. There's something quite massively wrong.

Starmer and Macron are playing Trump rather well.

They managed to look friendly and turn on the charm, but still corrected some of his false statements.

Let's be honest one of the only assets we have that Trump is interested in is the Royal Family so we might as well put them to good use...