Nigel Farage at a Donald Trump rally in 2016 (Image: Getty)
Conservatives are to criticize US President Donald Trump today, and accuse Reform UK of becoming “the champions of the White House” instead of putting Britain first. Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride will call out Mr. Trump's tariff policies in a speech to business leaders at the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Policy Conference. He will stress the importance of strengthening the UK's partnership with the US, which remains our biggest trading partner. But the Shadow Chancellor will say: “Tariffs are not the answer to our economic troubles. Increasing trade barriers is unquestionably a step backwards and will leave everyone worse off. So the approach of the current US administration is concerning.”
He is expected to add that while Britain remains a close ally of the United States, friendship requires honesty: “Being close partners, we have a duty to be honest when we see our friends making a mistake.” And in a dig at Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, Sir Mel will say: “It is disappointing that some politicians in our own country – in the Reform Party, for example – want to be seen as the champions of the White House in the UK, rather than being unequivocal in their stance on free and fair trade.”
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Sir Mel will stress the importance of the UK-US economic relationship, describing it as one of the strongest partnerships in the world and vital to British prosperity.
“The ties between the UK and US are deep and longstanding. Our two countries have stronger bonds than perhaps almost any other two nations in the world – culturally, diplomatically, and of course, economically.”
He is expected to argue that free trade is in the national interest. “Britain for centuries has thrived as an open, free-trading nation. It is how a small set of islands off the north coast of Europe became the world's first industrialized economy, a superpower, that in terms of territorial extent at least, has never been surpassed.”
He will underline the scale of that relationship: “Despite the changing world we live in…the US remains our biggest single country trade partner.
“£60 billion of good exported every year – roughly one sixth of all goods exported, and twice as much as our next largest market, Germany. And of course, even more vital for us here in the UK is our trade in services – with more than £130 billion of services exported to the US every year.
“That exchange between our economies creates jobs for our citizens, markets and investment opportunities for our businesses, and tax revenue for our public services. The more we can foster and strengthen those economic bonds, the better.”
Sir Mel will argue that this relationship is not just about exports, but innovation, investment and growth, praising the dynamism of the US economy and its culture of enterprise: “Closer ties also mean ideas and technologies are shared and dispersed…The dynamism of some parts of the American economy is outstanding – and I want as much of that dynamism as possible to diffuse across my own country.”
Referring to the challenges posed by the rise of the Chinese economy, he will say: “The Chinese model is one of strong state control, subsidies, protection from foreign competition through non-tariff barriers, and currency manipulation.”
Sir Mel will add: “A belief that we must avoid responding to our challenges by turning towards protectionism albeit that we must also be unflinching in protecting our markets in the face of unfair trading practices for which of course we have recourse to perfectly legitimate counter measures under WTO rules. “The right approach is to defend free trade and free markets, not to give up on them.”
Sir Mel will make clear that being a close ally of the United States does not mean uncritically backing bad policy: “And in the face of China this is surely a time when nations like Britain and America need to stick together, to unite in our commitment to freedom and free markets. And being close partners, we have a duty to be honest when we see our friends making a mistake.”
He will make clear that the answer to these challenges is not retreat, but resolve: “We in the Conservative Party see open competition and free trade not just as the fairest way to do business, but as the best way to drive productivity and efficiency.”
The Shadow Chancellor will also issue a direct warning against tariffs and protectionism, including those pursued by the current US administration: “Tariffs are not the answer to our economic troubles. Trade is about mutual benefit. It is not a zero-sum game.
“Increasing trade barriers is unquestionably a step backwards and will leave everyone worse off. So the approach of the current US administration is concerning.”
He is expected to add that while Britain remains a close ally of the United States, friendship requires honesty: “Being close partners, we have a duty to be honest when we see our friends making a mistake.”
Sir Mel will directly challenge Reform UK's stance: “It is disappointing that some politicians in our own country – in the Reform Party, for example – want to be seen as the champions of the White House in the UK, rather than being unequivocal in their stance on free and fair trade.”
The Shadow Chancellor will call for renewed transatlantic leadership and ambition, urging Britain and America to recommit to the principles that have underpinned decades of shared prosperity: “I want to see an end not just to tariffs but to non-tariff barriers as well. I want to see trade and investment flowing across the Atlantic like never before, creating jobs and wealth.”
“Free trade has been central to all of that. It brings jobs and investment, it creates wealth, it lifts people out of poverty. “It means we can make things, build things, invent things which on our own we might never achieve. It binds us together. It makes us stronger. It is worth defending.”
A Reform UK Spokesman said: “Nigel Farage has been explicitly clear that he opposes Trump's tariff regime. Once again the Tories have to resort to dishonesty because no one is listening to them.
“Minor party Mel should be making a speech apologizing for ballooning welfare budget he allowed to happen under his watch as a minister.”