David Lammy, the UK’s justice secretary and deputy prime minister, continues to play a prominent role in foreign policy, despite no longer being foreign secretary. His recent meetings with US Vice-President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington, followed by planned trips to Barcelona and the Gulf, have raised questions in Whitehall about who is driving the government’s foreign agenda.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer remains in charge of foreign policy, conducting much of Britain’s diplomacy himself. He is set to co-host a summit on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz with French President Emmanuel Macron. However, a team of trusted advisers and ministers also handles key diplomatic tasks, including Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Defence Secretary John Healey, and Cabinet Office Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds.
Jonathan Powell, Starmer’s national security chief, is described as the most significant influence on the prime minister’s foreign policy thinking. Other key figures include Varun Chandra, the chief business and trade adviser, and Hamish Falconer, the Middle East minister. Labour MP Emily Thornberry noted that foreign policy is now intertwined with domestic issues, providing ample work for multiple officials.
Lammy’s role focuses on fostering relations with deputy leaders abroad, particularly in Europe and the Gulf. His strong bond with Vance, forged during their time in opposition, is seen as a valuable channel of communication, especially given strained relations between Starmer and US President Donald Trump. Some officials view Lammy’s extensive foreign travel as a potential challenge to Cooper’s authority, but others emphasise the collaborative nature of the team.
