Sir Keir Starmer should be prioritising the UK’s relationship with the US rather than the EU, the shadow business secretary has said.
Andrew Griffith, a former Conservative minister, said the prime minister – who is heading to Brussels on Monday for talks with EU leaders – “should be rediverting his plane tomorrow” to Washington DC”.
Speaking on Sky’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips, Mr Griffith said the UK economy needed “all the help it can get at the moment” as he criticised the tax increases in the chancellor’s budget and declining business confidence.
Overnight President Trump imposed tariffs on Mexico and Canada – prompting fears that he could do the same with the UK and jeopardise Rachel Reeves’ mission to grow the economy.
Mr Trump declared an economic emergency in order to place duties of 25% on goods from Mexico and Canada, and 10% on all imports from China.
The tariffs also include a mechanism to escalate the rates if the countries retaliate – which Canada and Mexico did overnight.
In response to Canada’s retaliation, Mr Trump went further by threatening that the neighbouring country should become “our cherished 51st state”.
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Tariffs will put US jobs at risk – Canadian PM
Mr Griffith told Sky News there was “a…
