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Fox News
5 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
Trump heads to Scotland to talk golf, politics and trade
President Donald Trump will depart for Scotland on Friday for a five-day trip where he will check in with his golf resorts in Turnberry and Aberdeen, as well as with British Prime Minister Kier Starmer and head of the Scottish government, First Minister John Swinney. While it is unclear what dates he will be meeting with the British leaders, one topic of conversation expected to be top of the list is the U.S.-U.K. trade agreement. The U.K. is one of the few countries with which the U.S. has advanced its trade agreements under relatively amicable terms, signing a deal dubbed the "Economic Prosperity Deal" last month, which agreed to slash tariffs. It is unclear what details the pair will hash out, but according to Alan Mendoza, executive director of the Henry Jackson Society, an international affairs think tank based in London, the June deal was more of a "head of terms," essentially stating both nations' intent to move forward with new trade terms. "Now we expect to see more detail to be hammered out and specific rates on various industries to be specified," Mendoza explained to Fox News Digital. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt also told reporters last week that Trump and Starmer will meet "to refine the great trade deal that was brokered," though the White House did not answer Fox News Digital's questions about what specifically will be discussed over the weekend. "The U.K. is the only country to have secured this deal with the U.S., reducing car export tariffs from 27.5% to 10%, saving manufacturers hundreds of millions each year and protecting hundreds of thousands of jobs," the British government said in a statement. "At the same time, the aerospace sector has seen the removal of 10% tariffs on goods such as engines and aircraft parts, helping make companies such as Rolls Royce more competitive and allow them to continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation." Starmer championed his relationship with Trump in a BBC interview earlier this month and said that it was "in the national interest" for the two men to get along. "We are different people, and we've got different political backgrounds and leanings, but we do have a good relationship and that comes from a number of places," Starmer told BBC podcast "Political Thinking." "I think I do understand what anchors the president, what he really cares about." Apart from geopolitical talks, Trump is expected to get in a round of golf at one of his courses when visiting his clubs, like he did in 2018 when he visited the historic golf resort and hotel at Turnberry. The British government did not respond to Fox News Digital's questions whether Starmer is expected to play alongside Trump at any point during his trip. Scotland appears to hold special significance for Trump as his mother, Mary Anne MacLeod Trump, was born and raised in Scotland before she moved to Queens, New York, and he dedicated his club in Aberdeen to her after breaking ground in 2023 and naming an 18-round course the MacLeod Course. He is also reported to have created a memorial garden to his mother at the resort. Though his strong affection for Scotland has not always been reciprocated and Trump has previously been met with protests during his trip. Scotland Police confirmed with Fox New Digital that "significant" security precautions have been taken ahead of Trump's visit, including pulling in additional forces from across the U.K. to help with the police effort. "A policing plan will be in place to maintain public safety, balance rights to peaceful protest and minimize disruption," Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond said, confirming that protests are once again expected. "The visit will require a significant police operation using local, national and specialist resources from across Police Scotland, supported by colleagues from other U.K. police forces as part of mutual aid arrangements," she added. Trump will return to the U.K. in September for an official state visit, where he will meet with King Charles III at Windsor Castle. The visit will mark the first time the U.K. has invited a U.S. president for a second state visit.

The National
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The National
Keir Starmer told to 'stop cosying up' to Donald Trump
It comes after the Prime Minister said last week that he understood what the president cares about and that they had bonded over shared family values. Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Political Thinking programme on Friday, Starmer said: "For both of us, we really care about family and there's a point of connection there. "I think I do understand what anchors the president, what he really cares about." Keir Starmer and Donald Trump (Image: PA) Starmer has been criticised by the Scottish Greens, who accused him of "glamorising" his relationship with Trump. The party pointed towards Donald Trump's hush money conviction in 2023, as well as the US president's policies on healthcare and immigration, as they urged the Prime Minister to instead stand for "the values of democracy and human rights". READ MORE: SNP left wing push back against internal 'inertia' over indy strategy Scottish Greens MSP Maggie Chapman said that under Donald Trump, the US "is in turmoil". She said: 'His administration is sending innocent people to be tortured in foreign countries, he's just passed a bill that will strip 17 million Americans of their healthcare, he's begun an unprecedented transfer of wealth from the poor to his billionaire supporters, and he has openly called for the ethnic cleansing of Gaza. Maggie Chapman (Image: Christian Gamauf) 'For a UK Prime Minister to sit there and talk about his shared values with this President should set off alarm bells in every institution and every voter in this country. "Cosying up to a racist, misogynistic, climate-wrecking authoritarian like Donald Trump is the last thing we should be doing." Chapman said that "if we don't have our values, we have nothing", as she added: 'While values may be a flexible concept to Keir Starmer – if you don't like his values he, opportunistically, has others – it must not be for our country." The Scottish Greens MSP said Downing Street is "copying Trump's homework" by attempting to push through cuts to disability benefits to boost "spending on war and defence". READ MORE: Details emerge of Scottish arm of new Corbyn project 'Rather than working to overcome 14 years of Tory austerity and rebuild the country, Starmer is doubling down on the same disastrous policies that got us into the mess we're in," she added. Chapman went on to say that Labour were continuing to "echo the White House by refusing to end their active participation in the ongoing genocide of Palestinians in Gaza". She continued: "We see the death-toll mounting daily. We watch as innocent civilians are shot or blown up while waiting for food inside barbed wire enclosures. "Keir Starmer can't even bring himself to call out these atrocities, never mind end the UK's training and arming of those perpetrating them." Chapman asked: 'Are these the family values he speaks of so fondly? Is this really the path we want to follow? "Starmer must end this pathetic grovelling to the US President and begin standing up for real values – democracy, human rights, and a fair economy that improves living standards for everyone.'


Powys County Times
05-07-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Starmer thanks NHS worker who looked after his brother
The Prime Minister has thanked an NHS worker who looked after his brother in the last weeks of his life. Sir Keir Starmer's brother Nick died on Boxing Day in 2024 aged 60, having been ill with cancer. In a video posted on social media to mark the 77th anniversary of the health service, the PM said that advanced nurse practitioner Ben Huntley made sure that his brother 'felt cared for and respected'. In the clip, Sir Keir is shown speaking to Mr Huntley in Downing Street, while other members of the public also meet with NHS staff who helped them. The NHS has always been there for my family. Today, on its 77th anniversary, the entire country says thank you. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 5, 2025 The Prime Minister said: 'My mum worked in the NHS and then she was very, very ill, for most of her life. And the NHS became our absolute lifeline. 'My sister worked for the NHS, my wife works for the NHS, and it was the NHS that looked after my brother who we lost last Boxing Day to cancer. 'Ben, you looked after him. I think from the moment he was in all the way through, and you made sure that he felt cared for and respected.' The PM later added: 'That meant a huge amount to me and my family and, on all of our behalves, I say through you a very special thank you to the NHS.' Earlier this week, Sir Keir told the BBC's Political Thinking that he 'made it my business to be there in the hospital' when his brother was told about his diagnosis 'so that I could begin to help look after him'. 'It's really hard to lose your brother to cancer, he was a very vulnerable man,' the Prime Minister said. He shared details of 'going up in the porter's lift into the back of the intensive care unit' and wanting to protect his brother's privacy. He told the same interview that US President Donald Trump asked about his brother in a call a 'few days' after he died.


North Wales Chronicle
05-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Starmer thanks NHS worker who looked after his brother
Sir Keir Starmer's brother Nick died on Boxing Day in 2024 aged 60, having been ill with cancer. In a video posted on social media to mark the 77th anniversary of the health service, the PM said that advanced nurse practitioner Ben Huntley made sure that his brother 'felt cared for and respected'. In the clip, Sir Keir is shown speaking to Mr Huntley in Downing Street, while other members of the public also meet with NHS staff who helped them. The NHS has always been there for my family. Today, on its 77th anniversary, the entire country says thank you. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 5, 2025 The Prime Minister said: 'My mum worked in the NHS and then she was very, very ill, for most of her life. And the NHS became our absolute lifeline. 'My sister worked for the NHS, my wife works for the NHS, and it was the NHS that looked after my brother who we lost last Boxing Day to cancer. 'Ben, you looked after him. I think from the moment he was in all the way through, and you made sure that he felt cared for and respected.' The PM later added: 'That meant a huge amount to me and my family and, on all of our behalves, I say through you a very special thank you to the NHS.' Earlier this week, Sir Keir told the BBC's Political Thinking that he 'made it my business to be there in the hospital' when his brother was told about his diagnosis 'so that I could begin to help look after him'. 'It's really hard to lose your brother to cancer, he was a very vulnerable man,' the Prime Minister said. He shared details of 'going up in the porter's lift into the back of the intensive care unit' and wanting to protect his brother's privacy. He told the same interview that US President Donald Trump asked about his brother in a call a 'few days' after he died.

Rhyl Journal
05-07-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Starmer thanks NHS worker who looked after his brother
Sir Keir Starmer's brother Nick died on Boxing Day in 2024 aged 60, having been ill with cancer. In a video posted on social media to mark the 77th anniversary of the health service, the PM said that advanced nurse practitioner Ben Huntley made sure that his brother 'felt cared for and respected'. In the clip, Sir Keir is shown speaking to Mr Huntley in Downing Street, while other members of the public also meet with NHS staff who helped them. The NHS has always been there for my family. Today, on its 77th anniversary, the entire country says thank you. — Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) July 5, 2025 The Prime Minister said: 'My mum worked in the NHS and then she was very, very ill, for most of her life. And the NHS became our absolute lifeline. 'My sister worked for the NHS, my wife works for the NHS, and it was the NHS that looked after my brother who we lost last Boxing Day to cancer. 'Ben, you looked after him. I think from the moment he was in all the way through, and you made sure that he felt cared for and respected.' The PM later added: 'That meant a huge amount to me and my family and, on all of our behalves, I say through you a very special thank you to the NHS.' Earlier this week, Sir Keir told the BBC's Political Thinking that he 'made it my business to be there in the hospital' when his brother was told about his diagnosis 'so that I could begin to help look after him'. 'It's really hard to lose your brother to cancer, he was a very vulnerable man,' the Prime Minister said. He shared details of 'going up in the porter's lift into the back of the intensive care unit' and wanting to protect his brother's privacy. He told the same interview that US President Donald Trump asked about his brother in a call a 'few days' after he died.