The special relationship is greater than any one individual

Field Marshal Sir John Dill is not your average household name. As Churchill’s “guy” in Washington during the war, he is credited with establishing the so-called “special relationship”. I visited Dill’s grave in Arlington Cemetery last week. As a dual UK-US national, I’m proud of how that special relationship has matured over the decades and keen to explore how we can deepen our mutual bonds.

It was striking to learn just how intently our close ally is following events. There’s sheer bewilderment that such a respected and influential nation is now enduring such a difficult democratic impasse.

Over generations, Britain has gained

an enviable reputation as a leader on the world stage as a nation that solves problems, knocks heads together, defends and promotes hard-fought values – yet here we are, three years on – still banging on about Brexit.

This is not to trivialise the scale of the decisions confronting us, but to highlight the consequences Brexit gridlock imposes on our reputation. I assured my US counterparts that negotiating options remain on the table and that our economy continues to grow despite the political stasis.

But let’s be honest, the clock is ticking. Three or four bad chess moves and things could look much worse. Participation in EU elections would be one of them, inflicting untold damage on the morale of our country and party. We simply must conclude Brexit. Once there, I guarantee a national sigh of relief as the prospect of disorder is replaced by clarity and a measured transition, as well a chance to focus on other priorities. The Prime Minister has spoken of the potential to embark on a new chapter, for both party and country. This has prompted a number of enthusiastic Cabinet members to look ahead with thought-provoking domestic policy ideas to invigorate our economy and public services, and further harness the tech revolution.

Securing that Brexit deal will also let us rediscover our global voice, rather than wallow in domestic squabbles.

The erosion of the international rules-based order continues apace, with ever more states adopting populist and solitary positions. One or two nations must have the courage to step forward and update the rules that have served us well since the Second World War. Challenges include our ever-growing dependence on artificial intelligence and the need to deter state or non-state cyber attacks. Daesh’s caliphate may be decimated but its ideology is very much alive. Thousands of foreign fighters have dispersed and are regrouping in other poorly governed states. The West must develop grown-up relationships with Russia and China and address arguably the biggest and most immediate threat of climate change.

The UK has the experience, commitment and ability to lead by example. But the dominance of Brexit will not dissipate quickly. Extra political muscle is needed to lead these long-term international coalitions.

So how do we do this? I propose the post of an empowered Deputy Prime Minister – a “Henry Kissinger” with responsibility for co-ordinating the oversight of the Foreign Office and Ministries of Defence, International Development and Trade, ensuring our international endeavours are guided by political outcomes, not internal bureaucratic lines.

This leadership and co-ordination would facilitate the pursuit of broader international strategies which tie together security and governance programmes with trade opportunities.

Securing a Brexit deal in May would give Britain the opportunity to reset our commitment on the international stage. The 75th anniversary commemorations of the Normandy landings, to be attended by a dozen heads of state, including the US president, will provide the perfect platform to make this case.

In the spirit of Sir John Dill, D-day represents the bedrock of our international relationships. As we pay tribute to a generation of brave veterans who sacrificed their lives to defend our values, we can reaffirm our commitment to our allies, and most crucially the US, to defend those same values once again under threat.

As Sir John Dill proved, the special relationship matters. It is greater than any one individual. So we should leverage the US president’s state visit – including the opportunity formally to address Parliament.

Tobias Ellwood is the Conservative MP for Bournemouth East