The Brits are SO smart.

Exactly. At any moment Johnson might have started going on about Peppa Pig or started quoting Latin or some other part of his privileged buffoon act. He's also Team Me, just like Trump, and I don't know what happens if two of those people are in the same room. It's like crossing the streams.

He won’t. But we’ll find something else to offer him next time he threatens tariffs.

He’s also not interested in any sort of trade deal with the U.K. that isn’t America First. He’s so isolationist that we might get some minor trade agreements but I don’t see any large scale long term trade deal in the near future.

With a bit of luck our negotiations have improved from we desperately need a deal to show Brexit wasn’t a disaster what concessions would you like though.

You’re right in theory but the takeaway wouldn’t be ‘Wow, free speech!’ It would be ‘The Brits are good for nothing whiners who hate me; screw them’

To demonstrate our freedom of speech? I imagine it would set JD Vance's mind at rest somewhat if he saw Scottish people were freely able to protest even against his boss. Remember laws against freedom of speech is an even greater threat than Russia! Silent mass prayer anyone?

Come on now
Nothing self diagnosed about me, it was a Counsellor, GP and Psychiatrist if you remember rightly and IF you remember rightly I do not think I am a Narcissist
So if you want to follow people around MN at least get it right

Hoppinggreen is a self disagnosed narcissist and sociopath so she probably takes that as a compliment to be fair!

I think you have a more optimistic view of human nature than I do!

That wasn't quite what I meant. Trump has gone to his closest allies to tariff them highly. He is not even touching those jurisdictions which now have dominant commercial goods trade with China. In 2000, the US dominated Russia, South America, North America, Australia, Africa and Europe.

Now? North America, Europe.

Stay true to yourself

No, I sound like one of those people who provides a polite but professional service rather than fakes over the top interest in everything to try and ingratiate myself.
I think doing my job properly is more important than feigning interest in something (beyond what is polite of course)

You are worrying unnecessarily. Trump can't be trusted but Starmer's success yesterday helps Europe. Macron and Starmer are in partnership and Macron canbe trusted.

There's no surprise on China trade doing well, why would there be

The US will do more and has a chance

We're scaling back on international interests and as in the letter below we're leaving a void for China and Russia to fill even more.

Agree completely. Hopefully those who plan on ‘protesting’ will think twice and realise what Starmer is actually doing, rather than ‘oMG He’s SUCKing up TO a FASCiSt’

You just sound like one of those people who thinks there is moral value in acting unimpressed and aloof all the time.

What because I don't say "OMG your great uncle was from Newcastle, thats amazing!!!!!!!!" or "The Royal family are incredible, I hang around Windsor most weekend hoping for a glimpse"
Maybe I'm not "warm" but I am friendly, professional and efficient which is precisely what they need.
If you think American are warm you mustn't spend much time with them, they tend to be surface friendly but pretty steely underneath. My clients are anyway but they are all high achievers.

'Trump and the USA aren't acting much like allies at the moment.Starmer did well pandering to Trump's vanity. He and Macron are doing a difficult job trying to secure the future of Europe's security, it's hardly surprising if he looks a bit worried at times.'

'Not acting like allies'*, what do you mean?! Like him or loathe him he is our ally.

You make out that KS and EM are running the show and indulging Trump. They aren't, he is and he knows it. Starmer did do well with his bum licking yes, very impressive.

@Rummly - yes the EU call it the "precautionary principle". Caution until proved safe. The US is the polar opposite.

Incidentally I looked at the trade patterns of the world between 2000 and 2024. This is sobering news for the US. They were the top trading nation in 2000 for goods. Today, China is dominant.

Trump being Trump perhaps his approach of a gangster shakedown of former allies is a lot easier than doing the hard stuff.

I don’t imagine they’ll happen at all. Rural Scotland will be easier to police than central London. Lots of strategic road closures along his route to Balmoral would do it. Why anyone would want to do something so counterproductive is beyond me.

Part of the EU’s problem is non-tariff trade barriers. It’s the old ‘shed in Poitiers’ issue: the rumour was that the French used to have an old guy sitting in a warehouse surrounded by imported TVs and VCRs checking each one for electrical safety.

It’s more sophisticated now, particularly with big tech barriers and burdens, but the Americans and others can see straight through it. The EU loves to be slyly protectionist and nobody’s really challenged them on it. That seems to be changing.

You sound very warm and accommodating.

Part of my job is to settle American into The Uk and they are all stunned by the fact that I am pretty "meh" about The Royal Family. They think we are mostly all big fans apart from a few weirdos who hate them.
They all do like to tell me that they have an English Grandparent or similar and are a bit shocked when I am not more impressed with that as well.

I think it's more that our trade with the US is open for negotiations and the EU's is not. Trump will never get any concessions from the EU on cars (safety) and farming (agrifoods) where EU regulation makes it impossible for the US to compete owing to the massive difference in standards which drives consumer taste. Add in some regulation on tech companies and he wants blood.

@Wildflowers99

Not just Trump, but many Americans- as PP said their British heritage is v important to a lot of them, so it would be bad optics for a President to be unnecessarily harsh on the UK. Hence the ‘EU is an atrocity but we can work something out with the UK..’ and the unwavering support for the Royals.

Yes agree totally

Not just Trump, but many Americans- as PP said their British heritage is v important to a lot of them, so it would be bad optics for a President to be unnecessarily harsh on the UK. Hence the ‘EU is an atrocity but we can work something out with the UK..’ and the unwavering support for the Royals.

Ok then thank you for full disclosure on its “effectiveness”. Promotes kidnap, and other bad behavior and threats for money. Whilst sending terrorists to our shores and promoting terror online etc. And the crooked NGOs.

Makes total goodwill sense. Thank for explaining the meaning of “goodwill”