It’s time the UK got over a ‘special relationship’ with America that ended in 1945

When US President Donald Trump comes to the UK on 13 July there will, no doubt, be mass demonstrations and much talk of his alleged racism, homophobia, sexism, misogyny, etc.

Of much greater concern is the grave unpredictability of his administration. In the week of the fawning, forelock-tugging royal wedding, London-based news dusted down the epithets “special”, “longlasting” and “close” to describe the relationship between the UK and US. They no longer stand up to any scrutiny. The longest alliance is with Portugal since 1386. There has been no special relationship since 1945. It is the closest relationship which is unravelling.

Those who favoured Brexit had a rude awakening with the experience of Bombardier in Northern Ireland as President Trump wanted to impose 300 per cent tariffs on the Canadian planes till the US courts blocked him. Didn’t we know that America was great again and the US comes first? Certainly Brexit (which Trump praised) had no mention of chlorinated chicken or hormone-injected beef. Henry Mcleish has said one reason why Westminster wants to hoard powers is to stop the Scottish Parliament obstructing just such trade agreements with the US. Stephen Gethins has asked how do we stop creeping NHS privatisation or these food imports if we do not withstand the power grab?

Given recent events, the UK must urgently review our relationship. With the media’s focus on the royal wedding we may have taken our eye off the ball but, against the backdrop of tension on the Korean Peninsula, North Korea has accused the UK of “an act of war” as we deploy carrier HMS Albion and three other warships off that volatile country. No other European nation rushed to respond to the US request for assistance which, clearly, is totally unnecessary. It would be grudging not to accept that Trump has achieved some success with Kim Jong-un, albeit having threatened a nuclear attack.

The EU has blasted Trump for setting up the US embassy in Jerusalem which violated international law, ignored UN resolutions, exacerbated tensions and undermined the two-state solution. He does not like the UN and plans to slash contributions to some members and agencies.

The EU, Russia and China have criticised his plan to penalise firms which continue to do business with Iran (Total, BP, Airbus, etc) if we do not comply with his sanctions. UK companies make billions from these contracts, with exports to Iran up 40 per cent in two years! He has effectively undermined the Paris climate agreement. He does not like Nato, continually threatens to pull out and criticises European defence spending, though it is double what Russia and China spend combined.

In the film Love Actually Prime Minister David says of the special relationship: “A friend who bullies is no longer a friend.”

JOHN V LLOYD Keith Place, Inverkeithing