The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Biden a ‘great friend’ of Britain, says former PM
Former prime minister Gordon Brown said president-elect Joe Biden could look for international co-operation on global health, the economy and the “green revolution”.
The one-time Kirkcaldy MP said Mr Biden will be able to do a huge amount by executive order, but if anyone can get legislation through it is him.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’ s Today programme yesterday, he said: “I think there are three big issues apart from security and Nato.
“The first is co-operation on global health, finding a vaccine, treatments, therapeutics, sharing information.
“I think the second is co-operation on the economy. I believe we need a co-ordinated fiscal and monetary package to get the world economy moving forward again and I think that’s what Joe Biden will want.
“While he has huge domestic issues and there are huge divisions in America he has to sort out, there’s a third issue and I think that ’s the green revolution, and I expect him to be leading with other countries in trying to sort out climate change policy in the future.”
He said the presidentelect was a “natural negotiator” and added: “If Ronald Reagan was the great communicator, he is the great conciliator and he is capable of bringing people together.”
When asked whether it mattered that some of Mr Biden’s senior people did not like Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Mr Brown said: “Joe Biden has always been a great friend of Great Britain.
“I think he wants to be a friend of Britain. I think he plans, from what I know, to come to Britain within the first six months of becoming president, probably to the G7.
“He would prefer us to be in the European Union, I know that.
“He is also worried about the Good Friday Agreement – he is not going to allow a trade deal with Britain to happen if we in some way breach the Good Friday Agreement.”
Downing Street has said Mr Johnson has not yet spoken to Mr Biden.
Asked if it was a worry that the UK may not be among the first nations Mr Biden will speak to, the prime minister’s official
spokesman said: “No, that’s not something that we’re concerned about.”
Meanwhile, President Donald Tr u m p has continued to shun the media over the US election results as his successor pushes forward with his White House plans.
Mr Trump is yet to concede defeat in the presidential race despite broadcasters calling the result in favour of Mr Biden and Kamala Harris on Saturday.
The White House said Mr Trump had no public events scheduled for yesterday, four days since he told the nation: “If you count the legal votes, I easily won. If you count the illegal votes, they can try to steal the election from us.”
Mr Trump is yet to offer a concession or proof the election was stolen.
Mr Trump has continued to protest at the way the election was handled, taking aim at how state-bystate results are declared by news outlets in the US.
But former president George W Bush, who issued a statement congratulating Mr Biden, said the election was “fundamentally fair”.
The Republican, who served two terms in the White House, said: “Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country.”
Mr Biden is also reported to be considering a series of orders to reverse controversial decisions by Mr Trump.
The Financial Times said Mr Biden will seek to rejoin the Paris climate agreement and the World Health Organisation, and end the travel ban on citizens of seven, largely Muslim, countries through executive orders which do not need congressional approval.
Former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg said the UK could “struggle for relevance” under a Biden presidency.
Speaking to BBC’ s Westminster Hour, Mr Clegg predicted that Mr Biden and the PM would be “able to strike up a personal relationship” but warned Mr Johnson about the way Brexit would be viewed through an Irish lens in future in the Oval Office.
“Joe Biden is immensely proud of his Irish roots – he did it publicly in his speech ( after being announced president-elect), he does it privately as well, quotes Seamus Heaney at the drop of a hat,” he said.