WEB EXCLUSIVE: Will the special relationship prevail?
As the US presidential race gathers steam, Westminster is abuzz. Like the Derby Trials, MPs across the political spectrum are watching their horses anxiously. Some are seasoned observers. They know the trainers and even the thoroughbreds themselves. Others are more recent spectators, but with no less passion. The outcome of the presidential election matters in Westminster, for the course of US policy certainly, but also for UK domestic politics.
As the US presidential race gathers steam, Westminster is abuzz. Like the Derby Trials, MPs across the political spectrum are watching their horses anxiously. Some are seasoned observers. They know the trainers and even the thoroughbreds themselves. Others are more recent spectators, but with no less passion. The outcome of the presidential election matters in Westminster, for the course of US policy certainly, but also for UK domestic politics. It matters too for the ‘special relationship’, but less so than one might think. While politicians pick and choose their candidate, foreign office mandarins are working stealthily below the radar screen to ensure continuity in US relations, whoever wins in November.
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JL
January 29th, 2008 7:08pmThe sooner that people in the UK ditch this embarrassing and inaccurate concept of the 'special relationship' between the two countries the better. For at least sixty years now, the UK has been a poodle of the United States. It is time to ditch our fantasy of being a privileged partner of Uncle Sam and face the reality that, since even our nuclear missiles cannot be launched without American authorisation, we have lost both our sovereignty and part of our dignity in this very unequal relationship. Our subservience costs us influence in Europe and throughout the world. It is time to abandon our fantasies of an Americanised Britain and embrace the reality that our future lies with a strengthened, unified Europe. After all, we already do 70 per cent of our trade with our Continental neighbours.
D. Day
January 31st, 2008 3:16amIt doesn't speak well of Cameron, or the Tories, that they think McCain is pushing the Republicans "to the centre". McCain is the one who has been shifting his positions to the right-- to the suspicion of the Rep rank & file. And if you think McCain's style is "understated" & "self-deprecatory", then you really don't know him at all. The man is an egotistical powderkeg.