Sir Keir Starmer zoomed to the home of Jaguar Land Rover in Solihull to celebrate striking a trade agreement with President Trump which should prevent Britain’s car industry being hit with devastating tariffs. Giant cars on the assembly line trundled around him and the shunting and banging threatened to drown out the Prime Minister’s words. But his excitement was palpable.
In fact, as he described how he had struck a deal so the UK car industry can escape 27.5% tariffs, there was more than a touch of Tony Blair to Sir Keir.
When he stood surrounded by workers whose jobs are hopefully safer, there was a messianic buzz to the PM as he laid out his philosophy for protecting Britain’s interests in the age of Trump.
The details of the deal, he revealed, were discussed as his beloved Arsenal were crashing out of the Champions League against Paris Saint-Germain. He glowed like a manager whose team has brought home coveted silverware.
He took the opportunity to fire a shot at his critics.
“In recent years,” he said, “the idea has taken hold that you somehow show your strength by rejecting your allies, that you shut door, put the phone down and storm off. I’ve had plenty of people urging me to do that rather than stay in the room and fight for the interests of our country.
“I want to be absolutely crystal clear – that is not how this Government operates.”
Just as Blair came under fire for his close relationship with President Trump, this PM has no intention of letting the special relationship fray.
The fact the announcement coincided with Victory in Europe Day only added to the sense of drama.
He said: “For 80 years we have been the closest of partners and today we have added to that… It’s fitting today we renew the bond on the 80th anniversary of VE Day.”
Being in the room is at the heart of his strategy – and this agreement has convinced him it works.
“We did the hard yards,” he enthused. “We stayed in the room.”
Left-wingers in his own party probably dread the prospect of President Trump coming on a state visit. But Sir Keir did nothing to distance himself from this most controversial of modern US presidents.
“We work well together,” he said. “We respect each other, the President and I, and we trust each other.”
The PM will hope he can persuade the President to deliver the best possible settlement for Ukraine and go further in opening up trade. Britain’s carmaker will hope he can secure the elimination of car tariffs entirely
“This is just the start,” he insisted.
A Labour leader who last week received a drubbing in the local elections believes he has notched up a win in international diplomacy.
“We are the first country to secure such a deal with the United States,” he said. “And in an era of global insecurity and instability that is so important.
“The great challenge of our age is to secure and to renew Britain and that is what we are going to do.”
This is the type of rhetoric we heard in the Blair era. And Sir Keir is aiming to enter the champions league of prime ministers.gh negotiations.