I share Karen Lewton’s feelings on Keir Starmer’s sycophantic message to Donald Trump (Letters, 6 November). It was not only emetic but futile. There are no shared values between Starmer’s government and the Trump administration. If Starmer cannot see that in his designer eyewear, he should’ve gone to Specsavers. Trump now has great power over our government: I have no confidence in Starmer’s ability or even will to resist his demands – nor, as yet, in any potential successor’s. For the next four years we face government by Trump’s golf caddie.
Richard Heller
Former chief of staff to Denis Healey and then Gerald Kaufman
• I can understand dismay at Keir Starmer’s “sycophantic words”. However, I don’t think he was being either delusional or hypocritical, as Karen Lewton suggests. I imagine Starmer thinks the same of Trump as she and I. But however much it sticks in the craw, it is in the interests of the UK for our government to do its best to maintain good relations. If Trump carries out his threat to impose up to 20% tariffs on imports, it will do serious harm to the UK economy.
Steve Bamford
Angmering, West Sussex
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