From ‘brilliant ally’ to ‘weak and stupid’ within the same paragraph, it’s hard to know how to handle the impulsive outbursts from America’s 47th President. And yet, this is the position in which the British prime minister found himself this week as he stood firm in the face of Donald Trump’s threats to Greenland.

Some back channel diplomacy in Davos helped put US European relations back on an even keel but it’s clear the so-called ‘special relationship’ is under strain. So where does Keir Starmer turn now? Does he stick with the decades-old transatlantic alliance, does he push for more European integration, or does he look further afield to China?

To discuss this and more, political editor George Parker is joined by Whitehall editor Lucy Fisher, columnist and writer of the ‘Inside Politics’ newsletter Stephen Bush, and the FT’s foreign editor Alec Russell.

Follow: George on X @GeorgeWParker or Bluesky: @georgewparker.bsky.social, Lucy @LOS_Fisher or @lucyfisher.ft.com; Stephen: @stephenkb @stephenkb.bsky.social & Alec Russel on X:https://x.com/alecurussell

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UK ‘will not yield’ on Greenland, Keir Starmer warns Donald Trump

Trump’s Davos rant should alarm Starmer

‘Thank you Tony’: Blair’s ‘Board of Peace’ role prompts Trump praise and Westminster anger

Westminster ‘riding it out’ is not a strategy for UK-US relations

Flatter or confront? How world leaders are dealing with Trump

And sign up here for Stephen's morning newsletter, Inside Politics, for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue-(mostly)-in-cheek analysis. Get 30 days free

Political Fix was presented by George Parker and produced by Clare Williamson. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound engineering by Breen Turner. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.

Clip from Channel 4

What did you think of this episode? Let us know at: politicalfix@ft.com

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

First he was pushed and then he jumped: high drama at Westminster after Kemi Badenoch sacked her rival for the Tory leadership Robert Jenrick - his crime was plotting a defection to Reform UK. Hours later, Jenrick appeared at Nigel Farage's side, branding his former party "rotten".

Did Badenoch’s decisive action help the Tory recovery plan? Which party is left weaker and which stronger in the fight for the right - could this, the most significant defection so far, further fuel Farage’s claim that the Conservative Party’s days are numbered?

Deputy opinion editor Miranda Green hosts a discussion about the ‘psychodrama’ that has rocked Westminster this week with the FT’s deputy political editor Jim Pickard, columnist and writer of the ‘Inside Politics’ newsletter Stephen Bush, and FT’s chief political commentator Robert Shrimsley.

Follow Miranda, Jim, Stephen & Robert

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Betrayal, plots and a mole who derailed Jenrick’s defection to Reform

Robert Jenrick joins Reform UK after being sacked from Tory shadow cabinet

Jenrick’s sacking is both threat and opportunity for Badenoch

Lunch with the FT Robert Jenrick: ‘I’m unashamedly provincial in my attitudes’

Latest U-turn raises renewed questions over Keir Starmer’s judgment

And sign up for Stephen's morning newsletter, Inside Politics, for straight-talking insight into the stories that matter, plus puns and tongue-(mostly)-in-cheek analysis.

Get 30 days free

Political Fix was presented by Miranda Green, and produced by Julia Webster. Flo Phillips is the executive producer. Sound engineering by Breen Turner. Cheryl Brumley is the FT’s global head of audio.

Clips from BBC, X

What did you think of this episode? Let us know at: politicalfix@ft.com

Read a transcript of this episode on FT.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.