Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey has said that the UK should stand up to Donald Trump, calling him a “bully.” Speaking at his party’s spring conference in Harrogate, he urged the UK government to work with the European Union and Canada to respond to US trade tariffs.
Impact of US Tariffs on the UK
Trump has announced that new tariffs (taxes on imported goods) will start on 2 April. The UK is already facing a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum exports to the US. Sir Ed suggested that the UK should “hit back with tariffs of our own,” starting with taxes on Tesla electric cars. Tesla is owned by Elon Musk, who is now also an adviser to Trump.
Different Approaches: UK vs. Other Countries
Canada and the European Union have decided to respond to the US tariffs by imposing their own tariffs on American products. However, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has not taken similar action so far. He says he prefers a “pragmatic approach” while keeping all options open.
Ongoing UK-US Trade Talks
The US and UK are currently negotiating a trade deal, and Trump has hinted that a deal could prevent the need for tariffs.
Davey’s Concerns About Trump’s Policies
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, who has been outspoken against Trump, believes the UK should be firm in dealing with him. He says that, like any bully, Trump won’t stop if the UK stays silent or ignores him. Instead, the UK should stand strong and work together with its allies to push back.
Davey also accused Trump of betraying Ukraine and risking Europe’s security. He criticized Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witcoff, for dismissing UK leadership in global matters.
Debate Over UK’s Tax Policy
Sir Ed urged the Prime Minister to increase support for Ukraine by using frozen Russian assets in the UK. Meanwhile, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the UK does not want higher tariffs on British exports and is working to reduce trade barriers. She also suggested that the UK might adjust its tax on big tech companies, such as Amazon and Meta, to avoid tariffs.
However, Sir Ed criticized this idea, saying that changing UK tax rules to please Trump and Elon Musk would be a mistake.
