A Kamala Harris presidency would not lead to a UK-US alignment similar to what was seen in the days of Bill Clinton and Tony Blair, a Labour MP has said.
Josh Simons MP said it would be unlikely that such a partnership would emerge regardless of the US election result, citing the “completely different international relations context.”
Simons was speaking at a LabourList Labour conference event in partnership with US think tank Third Way, and UK think tank the Institute for Public Policy Research.
The former Labour Together director also noted the differences in systems between the UK’s first-past-the-post electoral model and the American electoral college system.
Simons said: “One thing we can be proud of in this country is we just have an election in which the median voter, transform the composition of our legislature.
“What we have shown is that when there is a major shift in public opinion, our legislature completely changes hands.”
Josh Freed, senior vice president for climate energy at Third Way, warned it was “difficult to make any predictions’ about the election, however. But he said Harris was “connecting with not just Democrats but a broader set of Americans”, he says.
Meanwhile speaking about the prospect of a second Trump presidency, Laura Chappell, associate director at the IPPR, said there would likely be fewer “adults in the room” this time.
She suggested his top team would likely be staffed by “true believers” in his project.
“We known Trump is not a multilateralist, he’s been very clear about that,” she added.
But she highlighted the potential for a more coordinated approach to a green transition under a potential Harris administration.
Follow all of the news and debate at party conference 2024 by LabourList here, the leading dedicated platform for Labour supporters on all things Labour.
READ MORE: Tuesday at Labour conference 2024: LabourList events today not to miss
READ MORE: Today at Labour conference: Five key events on Tuesday in Liverpool
READ MORE: Starmer will say Labour must rebuild Britain but cannot do it “with easy answers”
READ MORE: Defence Secretary Healey to chair Cobra meeting on Israel-Lebanon fighting
READ MORE: Conference 2024: Rachel Reeves pledges “a Budget to rebuild Britain” and condemns Tory waste
SHARE: If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this story – or any other topic involving Labour– contact us (strictly anonymously if you wish) at [email protected].
SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to LabourList’s morning email here for the best briefing on everything Labour, every weekday morning.
DONATE: If you value our work, please donate to become one of our supporters here and help sustain and expand our coverage.
PARTNER: If you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or content, email [email protected].
Value our free and unique service?
LabourList has more readers than ever before – but we need your support. Our dedicated coverage of Labour’s policies and personalities, internal debates, selections and elections relies on donations from our readers.
