Adam Boulton: He’s hyperactive but is Foreign Secretary David Lammy tough enough to get what Britain needs?
The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has an annual get-together in September for the good, the bad and the ugly of world diplomacy.
Global leaders, both democratic and autocratic, find themselves crammed together on Manhattan Island along with a babel of lobbyists, tech billionaires and demonstrators.
The UK’s new government will be under scrutiny in 10 days as it makes its debut in New York City this week, led by Sir Keir Starmer. The prime minister is so anxious to be there that he will cut short his time at the Labour conference to fly straight to the US.
The British team’s presence would usually be taken as a given. But it will be remarkable for two reasons: Rishi Sunak did not bother to attend last year, and the rest of the world is still sizing up the change to Labour and the return of an apparently stable British political outlook.
The new foreign secretary, David Lammy, will be at the prime minister’s side for meetings at UNGA, just as he was last Friday for this government’s inaugural visit to the White House.
Entering the Oval Office is always a big moment for a new British leader, with added poignancy that this visit was an intimate hello and goodbye to Joe Biden.
It is Lammy’s job to be more present on the international stage than anyone else in the new government as it tries to re-assert the UK internationally. He is seizing the opportunity with relish.
In his first nine weeks as foreign secretary, he has made more than a dozen trips abroad and held forty bilateral meetings with his opposite numbers. His voice is prominent in the debates over the two current world crises, the wars between Russia and Ukraine and in the Middle East.
After the inevitable negativity and suspicion of the withdrawal by “Global Britain” from the European Union, Lammy sees himself as the point man “to corral foreign policy”, co-ordinating national security with international development and bolstering the UK’s two traditional alliances with Europe and North America.
Sir Keir Starmer and Lammy flew to Washington DC for talks with the US president this week. Pic: PA
His team have coined the word “relational” for his approach and the boisterous and gregarious Lammy is laying great stress on the personal relationships he is building up with his foreign opposite numbers.
In August he made a joint visit to Israel with his French opposite number Stéphane Séjourné, and then this week travelled to Kyiv with the US secretary of state Antony Blinken, after hosting him at the Foreign Office. He regards the launch of the developing European security pact as one of his important early achievements.
In contrast to some recent British foreign secretaries, Lammy’s life story reads like training for the job.
First black Briton to attend Harvard
He was born in Holloway, north London, to Guyanese parents. He and his four siblings were raised largely by their mother in Tottenham. David won a choral scholarship to King’s School Peterborough and went on to study law at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies and at Harvard in the US, where he was the first black Briton to attend the law school.
He has worked as an advocate in both the US and UK and is the author of a number of books including Out Of The Ashes: Britain After The Riots, which drew on his experiences as a Tottenham MP when rioting broke out in 2011.
His intellectual prowess was dented by a disastrous appearance on Celebrity Mastermind frequently referred to by the quizmaster John Humphreys in the comic warm-up to his after-dinner speeches. Lammy scored eight points on Muhammed Ali in the specialist round but in a nervous general knowledge section he failed to get Marie Curie, the Bastille, The Sopranos and Stilton cheese – he also answered that Henry VII had taken the throne after Henry VIII.
Lammy is one of the most experienced ministers in Starmer’s team. He has been an MP since 2000, taking over Tottenham from Bernie Grant, one of the UK’s first-ever black MPs. The same year Lammy was also elected briefly to the Greater London Assembly.
A self-described ‘small-c conservative’
He held government junior posts under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown across a range of departments including health, culture, business and education.
A political moderate, pro-European and a self-described “small-c conservative”, he backed David Miliband over his brother Ed, and pointedly continued to sit out Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership on the back benches.
He spent his spare time building his public profile. He earned £243,000 outside parliament between 2019 and 2023, including as a host on LBC radio – putting him at the top of the list of Labour MPs.
Lammy entered the shadow cabinet under Sir Keir Starmer in 2020 and was promoted to shadow foreign secretary in November 2021. In a speech this May, before the general election, he noted that he had spent nearly three years understudying the proper job.
His closest links are with the US where he spent summers with relatives while growing up and subsequently studied and worked.
US secretary of state Antony Blinken recently met with Lammy at a summit in Ukraine. Pic: PA
Lammy is friendly and eager to please – the UK’s “closest friends and allies” most of all. Last week Lammy assured secretary Blinken: “The UK-US relationship is special. It’s special to me personally and it’s special to so many Brits and Americans.”
Blinken replied that the relationship is “essential”.
Both Democrats and Republicans are pleased by Lammy’s “NATO first” policy. In the Washington DC debate he is also in step with the US State Department, advocating extensive military backing for Ukraine, including striking into Russia with Storm Shadow missiles.
But some US voices are scornful of the UK’s current military capability and are waiting to see if Labour invests in improving it.
Read more:
David Lammy and Antony Blinken united on Ukraine
What you need to know about the new foreign secretary
The timing of the foreign secretary’s statement, banning a small portion of the UK’s already relatively small exports to Israel on the day six murdered Gaza hostages were being buried, aroused fury in Jerusalem and among Israel’s closest supporters in the US.
Typically outspoken but tries to build bridges
In a “cordial” phone call ahead of the announcement, Blinken asked Lammy what it would take to hold off the bans because of continuing ceasefire negotiations, but the move went ahead unchanged. Partisans for the Gazans have also condemned the UK action as too little and too late but the government believes it is in line with broader British public opinion.
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Lammy befriended Barack Obama 20 years ago at a Harvard law event. Typically outspoken, he is on the record describing Donald Trump as a “woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath” and a “profound threat to the international order”.
Anticipating that this might cause problems should Trump be re-elected in November, Lammy visited the US eight times as shadow foreign secretary and tried to build bridges with the Republicans. He stressed their shared Christian values with Chris LaCivita, a Trump campaign manager, and Trump’s Senate allies Lindsey Graham and Eldridge Colby.
He has also courted JD Vance, Trump’s current vice-presidential pick, who once likened the former president to Hitler. Lammy says he was “reduced to tears” reading Vance’s Hillbilly Elegy, which reminded him of his own “tough upbringing”.
In February last year when Lammy was shadow foreign secretary, he joined JD Vance – now US vice-presidential candidate – at a security conference panel in Munich. Pic: AP
Lammy brings charm, ambition and enthusiastic diplomacy to the otherwise rather dour character of Starmer’s new model government.
Inevitably he has his critics at Westminster. Given his record of outspokenness, some wonder if he will overreach himself. Others question whether he is tough enough to get what Britain needs from his friends.
The world is holding its breath to see whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump becomes the next president. The outcome will be highly consequential for top jobs here in Whitehall. The appointment of the new British ambassador to the US has been delayed until it is clear who has won.
All eyes will be on the hyperactive foreign secretary at UNGA and in the tense months ahead – Trump after all is already talking about World War Three. He and the rest of us have much at stake.
Well Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey will be on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips from 8.30 this morning.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy, the Liberal Democrats’ Sir Ed Davey and Conservative leadership hopeful James Cleverly will be on Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News from 8.30am this morning.
An MP has told Sky News she was attacked online by the Tate brothers after she participated in a debate in the House of Commons about violence against women.
The controversial duo, Andrew and Tristan Tate, are facing charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK – all of which they deny.
But they are still very active online, and according to Sorcha Eastwood, the MP for Lagan Valley, are targeting her.
In a document seen by Sky News, Tristan Tate has highlighted one of the MP’s tweets and writes in private correspondence: “MP, nice target, can we sue her?”
Sorcha Eastwood says at first she thought the replies were from parody accounts and not the Tate brothers.
Her original tweet was about Elon Musk, not the Tate brothers. The MP said Musk’s tweets should be looked at through a counter-extremism lens.
“I was really concerned, I was concerned because to me that is a direct attack for want of a better phrase on me serving my constituents.
“I couldn’t believe that they decided to pick this random Northern Irish MP. The fact that it wasn’t even about them. This is something I didn’t go looking for.
“I think from my perspective, it’s a very, very sinister attempt to shut down important voices in public life, political discourse.”
It was only when she started noticing an uptick in abuse from other accounts she realised she had encountered some of the brothers’ followers.
“I had rape threats. I had death threats. I had people saying I should be hung from a lamppost. I had people saying I should be chopped into liver. I also had people then who were like we’ll waste 15 minutes raping Sorcha Eastwood.”
A representative for the Tate brothers told Sky News that there was no targeted campaign against Sorcha Eastwood
A representative for the Tate brothers told Sky News that there was no targeted campaign against her.
They said: “Ms Eastwood has a distorted view regarding social media if she believes one is required to ‘invite or ask’ people to interact.
“Tristan Tate is entitled to his view in relation to her tweet regarding Elon Musk.”
The self-styled “misogynist influencer” Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan have both been charged with human trafficking, face allegations of trafficking minors, sexual intercourse with a minor and money laundering in Romania.
There is also a European arrest warrant for them as they are facing separate, unrelated charges of rape and human trafficking in the UK. They deny all charges.
Ms Eastwood now worries for others who don’t have a platform like her and who may not feel like they can speak out.
“If this is what has happened to me I have absolutely no doubt that this has happened to others where they have been attempted to be silenced.”
Keir Starmer has previously commented on the Tate brothers’ case in the Commons saying it is “a live issue”, but adding that “the principle is absolutely clear” in relation to whether the brothers should face justice.
Sorcha Eastwood says she wants to see the government do much more to protect against abuse online.
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Tate brothers deny wrongdoing
“I think ultimately the government has taken the wrong course on this. They need to step up.
“This should be an issue of national security as far as the radicalisation of young people online. It should be an issue in terms of the levels of misinformation, disinformation and the lack of trust that is had in our politics right across the UK and Europe.
“I want the government to help me, help every other person to crack down on this and get serious about it. And the only way they’ll be able to do that, is by hitting these tech companies in the only language which they understand, which is money and via robust legislation.”
A government spokesperson said: “Violence against women and girls is a scourge on our society which is why we have set out an unprecedented mission to halve these crimes within a decade.
“Tackling illegal abuse both online and offline is central to supporting victims and preventing harm in our communities and we will not hesitate to strengthen laws to deliver this mission.
“Last month, parts of the Online Safety Act came into force meaning companies must take action to protect users from illegal material including extreme sexual violence.
“Further protections from this summer will require platforms to protect children from harmful, misogynistic, and violent content.”
UK
‘It’s just nasty’: Birmingham residents ‘overwhelmed’ by foul stench and massive rats as bins strike rumbles on
In parts of Birmingham, the stench is overwhelming – enough to make you heave.
At a block of flats in Highgate, in Birmingham city centre, we find a mountain of bin liners full of rubbish spewing out of the cavernous bin store, which is normally locked.
Mickel comes out to speak to us, while all around bin liners lie open, with the contents for all to see, including used nappies and rotting food.
Mickel says they’ve had ‘foxes and rats, literally the size of cats’
Outside Mickel’s flat in Highgate, bin liners lie open, spewing out rubbish
We both find it hard to keep talking amid the awful smell.
“We’ve had foxes and rats, literally the size of cats, flies, it’s just nasty, something needs to be done,” he says.
Chris says the situation is ‘overwhelming’ as she’s ‘terrified of rats’
Around the corner, I meet Chris, in her dressing gown, popping the bins into her bin store beneath her flat before work.
She unlocks it, and although it isn’t bursting out on to the street yet, it is getting full.
She says the situation is “overwhelming” as she’s “terrified of rats”. But, even so, she has sympathy for the striking bin workers.
“It’s not an easy job; they must have a heart of gold to do that job,” she says.
“Pay them whatever they need, they deserve it.”
Striking bin workers at Lifford Lane tip, south of the city centre
There’s an awful smell coming from a mountain of bin liners outside Mickel’s flat in Highgate
At Lifford Lane tip, south of the city centre, Brigette has pulled up alongside picketing workers. The back seat of her car is full of rubbish.
She apologises for the terrible waft, mixed with air freshener.
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Pest controllers ‘feel like an emergency service’
Bin workers strike explained
“It’s very pungent, isn’t it? Not nice,” she admits.
“It’s unfortunate, I have some sympathies for all the parties, but, equally, we have a duty of care to stay clean and tidy.”
She says she has her rubbish and that of her elderly aunt and plans to make weekly trips to the tip until a resolution in this pay dispute between the council and the Unite union is found.
UK
‘US is our closest ally’, Jonathan Reynolds says in reaction to Trump tariffs – but ‘nothing off the table’
The US is “our closest ally” but “nothing is off the table” in response to Donald Trump’s 10% tariffs on imports from the UK, the business secretary has said.
In a statement following the US president’s nearly hour-long address to the world, Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: “We will always act in the best interests of UK businesses and consumers.
“That’s why, throughout the last few weeks, the government has been fully focused on negotiating an economic deal with the United States that strengthens our existing fair and balanced trading relationship.”
Follow the latest following Trump’s tariffs announcement
Mr Reynolds reiterated the statements from the prime minister and his cabinet over the past few days, saying the US is “our closest ally”, and the government’s approach is to “remain calm and committed to doing this deal, which we hope will mitigate the impact of what has been announced today”.
Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds says “nothing is off the table” following the tariffs announcement. Pic: PA
But he continued: “We have a range of tools at our disposal, and we will not hesitate to act. We will continue to engage with UK businesses, including on their assessment of the impact of any further steps we take.
“Nobody wants a trade war, and our intention remains to secure a deal. But nothing is off the table, and the government will do everything necessary to defend the UK’s national interest.”
‘Get back round the negotiating table’, say Tories
The Conservative Party’s shadow business and trade secretary described the US president’s announcement as “disappointing news which will worry working families across the country”.
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Sky’s Ed Conway examines how economies across the world are impacted by tariffs
Andrew Griffith hit out at the government for having “failed to negotiate with President Trump’s team for too many months after the election, failed to keep our experienced top trade negotiator, and failed to get a deal to avoid the imposition of these tariffs by our closest trading partner”.
“The chancellor’s emergency budget of just a week ago with its inadequate headroom is now at risk, casting uncertainty about more taxes or spending cuts,” he continued. “Sadly, it is British businesses and workers who will pay the price for Labour’s failure.”
He called on ministers to “swallow their pride” and “get back round the negotiating table to agree a fair deal to protect jobs and consumers in both the UK and the US alike”.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has reacted furiously to Mr Trump’s announcement of a “destructive trade war”, and called on the government to stand up against “Trump’s attempts to divide and rule”.
“The prime minister should bring our Commonwealth and European partners together in a coalition of the willing against Trump’s tariffs, using retaliatory tariffs where necessary and signing new trade deals with each other where possible.”
Speaking on Wednesday evening at a White House event entitled ‘Make America Wealthy Again’, the US president unleashed sweeping tariffs across the globe.
Mr Trump held up a chart detailing the worst offenders – which also showed the new tariffs the US would be imposing.
The UK’s rate of 10% was perhaps a shot across the bow over the 20% VAT rate, though the president’s suggested a 10% tariff imbalance between the two nations. Nonetheless, tariffs of 10% could directly reduce UK GDP by between 0.01% and 0.06%, according to Capital Economics.
A 25% duty on all car imports from around the world is also being imposed from midnight in the US – 5am on Thursday, UK time.
Read more:
World reacts to Trump’s tariff announcement
Tariffs will have consequences for globalisation, the US economy and geopolitics
Trump’s tariffs explained
The UK government had been hoping to negotiate an economic deal with the US in a bid to avoid the tariffs, but to no avail. The government says negotiations will continue.
The Confederation of British Industry said “negotiating stronger trading relationships with all like-minded partners will be foundational to any success”.
The business secretary is expected to make a statement in the House of Commons on Thursday, and we are also expecting to hear from the prime minister.
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