Ed Miliband's Foreign Secretary Appointment Infuriates Washington, Sparks Reader Debate

Ed Miliband’s appointment as foreign secretary has infuriated Washington, with the White House said to be “deeply concerned” about the pick.

New prime minister Andy Burnham has been warned that Trump “will not forget” Mr Miliband’s years of criticism of him, and that his foreign secretary has “serious diplomatic repair to undertake” in the US.

The pair have clashed for a decade over net zero and Russia, with Mr Miliband once calling Trump a “racist, misogynistic, self-confessed groper” and later accusing him of having “lowered the bar for idiocy”.

Independent readers, though, largely dismissed the row as Trump overreaching.

The dominant view was that it’s not the US president’s place to veto a British cabinet appointment, and that the “special relationship” has too often meant Britain deferring to Washington for nothing in return.

Meanwhile, a smaller number of readers warned that antagonising a sitting US president is reckless when Britain, outside the EU, can’t afford to burn its closest ally.

Here’s what you had to say:

If Trump hates him, he’s the right choice

If Trump hates him, he’s definitely the right choice. Starmer sucking up to Trump, who dumped him anyway, was his undoing. Closer to Canada, good; closer to the EU, even better. Stand up to Trump, and like any bully, he will respect you. We have to work closely with the EU, especially on tech, pharma and defence. Stop looking at the Americans.

punda

Cowards only respond to strength

An excellent choice, Burnham. I could understand Starmer’s desire for diplomacy, but diplomacy doesn’t work with Trump. Cowards only respond to people who stand up to them. Hope this is a confrontational moment.

DHC

Britain must reassert its sovereignty

We in the UK need to learn a lesson from the French and more recently from the Canadians. We do not need to tolerate American interference in our affairs from the American government, American billionaires or anyone else. The French never have and by standing up for themselves they have done far better than we have. Now under Carney the Canadians are doing the same. Those Americans like Trump who think the USA should dominate the world want to convert all their erstwhile friends and allies into effective colonies. We need to work with all the others in this position to clear out all the sources of American influence in our affairs and reassert our sovereignty. In any case Trump has made himself so unpopular in the US itself and all around the world that he will soon be a lame duck president even if he is not already.

Bobcat

The US has no say over our cabinet

What right has Trump and his team got, to determine who is in the Labour Government Cabinet because as far as we know, GB is not another state in the USA under the greasy thumb of his lordship? Get over it, Mr President and focus on your own problems and priorities. Harbouring grudges and bitterness are not attractive attributes for a leader.

WinnieB

A test for Burnham

It will be a test for Burnham not to react to Trump’s tantrum and keep Miliband in post. It’s not the prerogative of the US president to choose the British cabinet.

EEMC2

Imagine the fury if we criticised Trump’s picks

It seems like the US believe they have the right to veto UK government appointments. Can you just imagine the hell and fury from the White House if the British government commented about the Trump administration’s appointments. I realise that we have close ties with the US over many issues but this constant criticism of the UK from the White House is getting ridiculous and needs to be called out.

Fru T-Bunn

None of Trump’s business

I can’t imagine Ed Miliband – or Andy Burnham will be too bothered! It is none of Trump’s business who is appointed. Contrary to Trump’s opinion, he does not have the right to choose ministers in other nations.

Suney

He’s the British foreign secretary, not America’s

As far as I can make out, he is the British foreign secretary and not the US foreign secretary. So the decision isn’t down to Trump. Some people will say we shouldn’t appoint someone Trump doesn’t like, but we’ve seen time after time that Trump is no ally and will turn on anyone, so no way should we pander to his whims.

PaulMG

There’s no such thing as a special relationship

Hated for speaking the truth. It is time the British people wake up, there has never been any special relationship, the special relationship is there only if we bend the knee and do whatever the US government wants. It is a one-sided relationship.

Sunlight

We’ve given Trump too much airtime

Well, we have tried kissing his posterior and that has brought us nothing but grief and loss of respect. Time for our foreign secretary to focus his attention on the rest of the world and Trump is just going to have to think of that what he wishes. We are giving far too much airtime to that country.

SeanF

It’s the climate message that really bothers them

Well, the last thing they want is a net zero enthusiast travelling around the world telling other countries that taking action on climate change might be a good idea. I think that concerns Trump and his cronies far more than anything Miliband may have said in the past.

antmanbee

Don’t attempt to placate Trump

Whatever you do, Ed, don’t attempt to placate Trump. He will see it as another sign of British weakness. And we’ve seen more than enough of that with Starmer.

Cyclone8

Trump doesn’t grasp America’s declining relevance

Nothing to worry about. Trump seems incapable of understanding that turning his back on Europe and Nato also means that as a natural progression, the US will gradually become less and less relevant as time goes by. I understand that the saner US military leaders fully understand this, but as Trump is a very stable genius, he must have a hidden masterplan.

The Dark Side of the Balloon

Remember how they treated Mandelson

Trump’s reaction confirms he’s the right guy. But didn’t they whinge about Mandelson and his comments in exactly the same way, and then love him? But then, Mandelson was Ambassador to the US and hence directly relevant to them, while in the case of Miliband the US is but one of very many countries he will deal with.

ElectiveScot

Miliband’s appointment wasn’t politically astute

Miliband wasn’t a good choice for foreign secretary since a) he has limited experience in foreign policy and b) is not esteemed by Trump. There is much bravado on the thread recommending that Trump is ignored, but that is not politically astute. The UK is outside the EU; realpolitik dictates that it must work with Trump.

Musil

High office demands restraint

Any political person in high office who can’t hold their tongue shouldn’t be in said high office – Lammy, Miliband to name but two. It isn’t about ingratiating yourself and your country but about not using insulting words and terms, about anyone. Agree, disagree with direction, policies but don’t do schoolyard behaviour, you have to be above it, you have to grit your teeth, you don’t even have to be their friend.

leafspot