PARTY TIME: WHAT TRUMP VICTORY MEANS FOR THE UK
Is the "special relationship" stronger than ever now?
Britain is waking up to a stunning new political landscape. As Americans absorb the enormity of the Trump comeback, attention will focus on what it means across the pond.
However, there are huge implications here. In short, it’s a shocker for Starmer and his hapless Foreign Secretary, David Lammy. Not so long ago, Lammy labelled the soon-to-be 47th President of the United States a “woman-hating….Neo-Nazi sociopath.” All very well if you’re after a few cheap cheers from Labour students and are courting the readers of Time magazine (in which he went on to describe the President as a “profound threat to the international order”) - seriously awkward when you find yourself in the same room.
Here's my take on the dramatic political implications here.
SHARES IN FARAGE JUST SKYROCKETED
As of today, the leader of the Reform Party has the closest link to the US Administration of anyone in the UK. Make no mistake: Farage has a direct line to Trump and is intimately connected to his inner circle. Last night, he had the hottest ticket in town as the only British parliamentarian to be invited to spend election night rubbing shoulders with Elon Musk et al. at Mar-a-Lago.
These are relationships Farage has been cultivating with Trump for years. Back in 2016, I was with him at a Trump rally in Cleveland, Ohio, an event that marked the beginnings of this remarkable relationship. It was Brexit that did it. In Farage, Trump saw a fellow anti-establishment usurper. He began inviting the man he called “Mr Brexit” to speak at his rallies, frequently encouraging crowds of adoring MAGA supporters to roar their approval for the Englishman who defied the political odds to help deliver the biggest democratic vote for a single cause in British history.
This is a relationship Farage has been nurturing meticulously ever since, never faltering in his loyalty, even after the 6th January Capitol Hill riot when Trump was at his most politically toxic. Time and again, the Reform leader put their bond ahead of his own political interests, playing a long game even as it gave ammunition to his own enemies. It hasn’t been easy – as Trump knows. That investment has now paid off in spectacular style. Anyone in this country who wants to reach Trump must now know that Farage holds the key, putting him in an extraordinarily powerful position.
The whole situation is a nightmare for Starmer, who will want to maintain a cool distance from the new President, for fear of upsetting his own base. I can reveal that several months ago, Farage – putting country before petty party politics – offered to help smooth Starmer’s way into the Trump camp. Starmer – putting petty politics before country – declined the entrée. What a muppet.
BAD NEWS FOR THE TORIES
It will take some time for the Left to dry their tears, but there are equally sobering implications for the Tories. Why? Because Trump’s victory is a massive boost for Reform UK. This isn’t just about the Trump/Farage rapport – it’s the encouragement his victory gives the UK’s equivalent of MAGA supporters, many of whom are huge Farage fans.
Awkwardly for both Labour and the Tories, in the coming months, Trump will showcase how governments can get a grip on illegal immigration. If he delivers what he has said he will deliver, he is going to provide a livestream demonstration of paring back big government and firing thousands of expensive, lazy civil servants. He will continue to reject the woke agenda vociferously. That puts the Conservatives, as well as Labour, on the spot. If Trump makes good on his pledge to begin mass deportations, Reform UK will be best positioned to capitalise. A determined and successful effort to take back control of America’s borders will only enhance the shame of the two parties in this country who could have done the same – but have manifestly failed.
NIXING NET ZERO
On both sides of the Atlantic, Trump’s “magnificent victory” is very bad news for the green energy brigade. He has made no secret of his disdain for Net Zero, promising to “drill baby, drill” for more oil and gas and revive coal power in the States.
Of course, Net Zero nutter Ed Miliband isn’t suddenly going to abandon his mad plan to carpet the UK with wind turbines, scrap all those multi-billion pound subsidies for climate change-related businesses, or slash through the deepening thicket of Net-Zero related regulation that stifles UK growth. Labour will push ahead with all this and more.
However, politics will become much more difficult as British voters watch the White House rejecting the climate change hysteria. Since the Tories embraced the green agenda, once again, Reform is best positioned to capitalise.
THE GREAT CHAGOS SELL-OUT
The crazy sell-out of the Chagos Islands is now up in the air. These highly strategic British overseas territories include the island used as a US military base: Diego Garcia. In a scandalous betrayal of this country’s interests, Starmer secretly agreed to hand the islands to Mauritius, who are not only great mates with the Chinese but want to charge us for the land. Yes, that’s right – we’re not being paid to hand over these assets (even if we were, almost no amount of money would be worth it); we, the British taxpayer, will be expected to provide a “package of financial support” to Mauritius. Come again?
It is all outrageous, and having been told about it by Farage, Trump has a bee in his bonnet about it. So far, the UK and Mauritius have only agreed ‘Heads of Terms.’ The US has a keen interest in what happens because of Diego Garcia.
Stand by for Trump to intervene and unravel the deal – paving the way for a significant victory for Reform UK.
NEW HEADACHE FOR REEVES
Any uptick in the US economy under Trump will pile pressure on Rachel Reeves. According to the advance estimate, in the third quarter of 2024, GDP in America was 2.8pc – a figure many expect to grow, as Trump seeks to cut tax and protect American industry. Our tax-obsessed Chancellor can only dream of such figures. If Trump’s ‘small state, low tax’ mantra puts the rocket boosters undergrowth, the reverse approach Reeves has adopted will be ever more challenging to defend.
VACCINES
This is a quirky one and hasn’t received much attention in the UK – but Trump may do some dramatic stuff on vaccines. The newly elected President has pledged to give Robert F Kennedy Jr a major healthcare role in this administration, paving the way for a significant shift towards banning certain vaccines. It comes amid mounting controversy over the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines.
On this note, I will soon be publishing The Vaccine Files. I have been waiting for the right moment. It feels like the time is coming. Stand by for some sensational subscriber-only revelations…..
As someone who now uses homeopathy and herbal medecine where I can, I will be watching America with interest with their MAHA campaign. Looking forward to publication of your Vaccine Files.