Chris Mason: Trump’s Scotland go to offers Starmer invaluable entry
Two instances round, the US president and the prime minister went, trying down on Donald Trump’s new golf course north of Aberdeen.
Lastly, they got here into land, days of diplomacy garnished with absurdity.
Downing Road are reconciled to the Trumpian methods of doing worldwide affairs.
If doing a number of airborne laps of the president’s new Scottish golf course are par for the course on board the presidential helicopter and en path to a personal dinner with him, so be it.
This notionally “personal” journey for Trump has been truly very public.
In fact it has: it’s how the president rolls.
The president’s personal pursuits are talked up in public workplace, even all the way down to the standard of the plywood at Trump’s Turnberry golf course in Ayrshire, the place he was earlier than he flew on to Aberdeenshire.
And all this on his first journey to the UK since his re-election, however simply weeks earlier than he makes an unprecedented second state go to right here in September.
The talks at Turnberry started with the spectacle of the president gushing in regards to the prime minister’s spouse, Victoria, as she stood alongside him, the whole dialog virtually drowned out by a close-by bagpiper.
The leaders then spent greater than half an hour speaking one on one, earlier than a traditional of the Trumpian style – a rolling, free-wheeling question-and-answer session with reporters, lasting greater than an hour.
The subject record: generators, Germany, free speech, Scottish independence, China, the King, rates of interest, prescription drugs. Amongst different issues.
For Sir Keir Starmer, each on and off digicam, this all quantities to invaluable face time with Trump, even sharing a elevate on Air Drive One, burnishing a relationship as strong as it’s unbelievable.
The jeopardy for him is evident too although: driving shotgun with a free-wheeling president comfortable taking pictures the breeze with reporters seemingly endlessly.
Sir Keir interjected with care, to defend the mayor of London, closely criticised by the president, to clarify his immigration coverage and his outlook on Gaza.
An earlier rolling encounter with reporters took No 10 unexpectedly: the prime minister’s spouse, standing subsequent to the president, perfecting her poker face because the questions – and solutions – flowed and flowed.
As ever, the important thing query is what can this relationship ship for the UK?
Downing Road regard the entry moments like this provide as invaluable.
They’re happy that the president’s language on Gaza quantities to what they see as a toughening of his outlook and what they hope may be an alignment with the discussions the UK, France and Germany have been having in latest days.
Let’s examine.
On Tuesday, the cupboard will collect at 14:00 for a uncommon summer time assembly, some ministers attending in particular person in Downing Road, others becoming a member of remotely.
The main focus can be on Gaza – and the most recent transfer from many to see if, collectively, the beginnings of an answer could be discovered to the horrific photos we’re at the moment seeing from the Center East.
