Chris Mason: How Lammy and Vance’s unlikely friendship is being leveraged
Chris Mason: How Lammy and Vance’s Unlikely Friendship is Being Leveraged
For weeks, Donald Trump has persistently criticized the UK’s prime minister, casting sharp public remarks that have drawn repeated responses from Sir Keir Starmer. Yet, amid these tensions, a notable connection between the two leaders’ senior aides continues to develop. David Lammy, the justice secretary and deputy prime minister, recently traveled to Washington to engage in discussions with JD Vance, the U.S. vice-president, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Each encounter lasted approximately 45 minutes, centered on regional conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Interestingly, the focus of these meetings appears to bypass the traditional foreign secretary role. Lammy, who previously held that position before Yvette Cooper took over, now collaborates with Vance on issues like the Middle East. Their relationship began during Lammy’s time as an opposition MP, when Vance was newly elected to the Senate. Last summer, Vance and his family spent time at Lammy’s country home in Kent, Chevening, during a holiday visit to the UK. This bond has grown stronger, as evidenced by Lammy’s recent post on X, where he shared: “Great to catch up with my friend JD Vance today in DC following his talks in Pakistan.”
“It is vital that the ceasefire continues and we get shipping flowing freely again through the Straits of Hormuz. We continue to work together towards a just and lasting peace in Ukraine.”
Lammy’s remarks, accompanied by an image of the two shaking hands, underscore the strategic value of this alliance. Meanwhile, the prime minister has reiterated his stance on Trump’s rhetoric, condemning the U.S. president’s claim that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” as a threat to Iranian civilians. Sir Keir Starmer told MPs that “in relation to the language about destroying a civilisation, could I really be clear with this House – that was wrong.” He emphasized that such statements, which equate Iran’s actions to civilizational harm, are inconsistent with the UK’s values.
Starmer also criticized both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in the same sentence, stating he was “fed up with the fact that families across the country see their bills go up and down… because of the actions of Putin or Trump.” The UK has further clarified its position by refusing to join America’s efforts to block Iranian ports. Trump, however, has not ceased his public attacks on the prime minister, recently calling him “not Winston Churchill.”
Despite these differences, the government sees value in Lammy’s friendship with Vance, as it provides a diplomatic bridge between the UK and the U.S. While the relationship between the prime minister and Trump remains frosty, the warmth between their deputies offers a counterbalance. This dynamic highlights how personal ties can influence official negotiations, even as broader political rifts persist.