Keir Starmer is walking a diplomatic tightrope as he prepares to meet Donald Trump in Washington next week, balancing the need for a good relationship with the US president against domestic pressure to take a firmer stance. A YouGov poll this week found that half of voters believe it is in the UK’s interest to criticise Trump, while only 30% favour building a positive relationship without reproach.
The public’s negative view of Trump is stark: a More in Common poll last month gave him a 59% unfavourable rating and just 24% favourable, lower than any UK politician. When asked why they disliked his election win, respondents cited his criminal record, misogyny, and adjectives such as racist, crazy, authoritarian and dangerous.
Starmer’s caution is partly economic, given the threat of US tariffs, and partly security-related, as he hopes to persuade Trump against a hasty Ukraine ceasefire favouring Russia. Meanwhile, a Policy Institute study found 53% now think Britain should prioritise Europe over the US, a reversal from 1967 when America was favoured 53% to 33%.
Other party leaders face similar challenges. Kemi Badenoch aligns with Trump but contradicted him on Ukraine, while Nigel Farage’s close ties appeal to Reform UK voters but risk limiting his broader appeal. Ed Davey has taken the most aggressive stance, attacking Trump openly to attract disaffected Labour and Tory voters.
