David Lammy, the UK's justice secretary and deputy prime minister, met with US Vice-President JD Vance in Washington this week, the first foreign official Vance saw after returning from peace talks in Iran. Lammy is also set to visit Barcelona and the Gulf, continuing his diplomatic engagements despite leaving the Foreign Office.
The former foreign secretary's whistle-stop diplomacy has raised questions in Whitehall over who is driving UK foreign policy. Prime Minister Keir Starmer conducts much of Britain's diplomacy himself, while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has spent much of 2026 abroad. National security chief Jonathan Powell is Starmer's most trusted adviser, and other ministers like defence secretary John Healey also play roles.
Lammy's bond with Vance, forged when both were in opposition, is seen as vital given strained relations between Starmer and President Trump. Over a 45-minute White House meeting, they discussed peace talks and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Allies say Lammy fosters ties with deputy leaders abroad, including in Europe and the Gulf.
Some in government view Lammy's frequent foreign travel as a challenge to Cooper's authority. Labour's Emily Thornberry noted that foreign policy is now essentially domestic policy, creating enough work for all involved.
