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SIR KEIR STARMER was told by MPs today to stand up to Donald Trump on trade as the announcement on US worldwide tariffs loomed.
The US president was set to announce his plans late last night, with it looking unlikely that Britain would escape the import taxes he plans to impose.
However, there was no sign in the Commons of the Prime Minister budging from his sycophantic approach to the White House, leaving Sir Keir almost the only world leader not threatening retaliation for the anticipated US move.
This despite a new YouGov poll showing that 71 per cent of the public would back counter-measures against the US, with only 11 per cent opposed.
Sir Keir told MPs: “A trade war is in nobody’s interest and the country deserves, and we will take, a calm, pragmatic approach.
“That is why constructive talks are progressing to agree a wider economic prosperity deal with the US.
“That is why we are working with all industries and sectors likely to be impacted.
“Our decisions will always be guided by our national interests, and that’s why we have prepared for all eventualities, and we will rule nothing out.”
But he ducked when Irish SDLP MP Claire Hanna told him that it was the “wrong approach to pander to bullying tactics” amid reports that Labour has offered to cut the digital services tax, set to hit Google, Meta and other US high-tech giants, in a bid to appease Mr Trump.
And he slapped down Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey who urged him to form an “economic coalition of the willing standing up to the US,” saying he would never choose between the US and Europe.
Labour MP Andy McDonald said: “We are a sovereign state and we need to stand up for ourselves and our own trading interests.
“We’re not here just to adopt a drop hands position forever to satisfy the insatiable appetite of President Trump.”
And another Labour MP told The Telegraph that Sir Keir’s sycophancy strategy was not working.
He said: “I do think we humiliated ourselves, going over there and sucking up to Donald Trump.
“It didn’t feel great from the point of view of a proud nation like ours.”
A Downing Street spokesman claimed that British business wanted “a private dialogue” with the US rather than a “knee-jerk response” and seemed indifferent to the negative optics of Sir Keir uniquely subservient posture.
