Sir Keir Starmer’s pursuit of closer relations with the European Union risks sparking a fresh “problem” with Donald Trump, the US Ambassador to the UK has warned.
Speaking at the British Chambers of Commerce event in London, American diplomat Warren Stephens sounded alarm bells for the Labour Government when asked about the Prime Minister’s push to adopt 76 Brussels-derived directives.
Sir Keir looks poised to return at least 76 directives to the UK’s statute books as part of his push for closer alignment with the continental bloc.
New legislation, which will be introduced in the King’s Speech in May, will allow ministers to transfer European regulations covering agriculture and food into UK law.
Mr Stephens said: “The relationship between the US and EU is a lot more difficult than with the UK.
“To the extent and I saw this week, the British Government is going to put 76 laws or rules back on the books, to the extent that affects us trade and and requirements, that’s going to be a problem.
“I know the EU is an important market for the UK and you’ve got to do what’s best for you.
“But that will not be favourably viewed from Washington.”
America’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Warren Stephens, spoke at the British Chamber of Commerce
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GB NEWSSir Keir has made a reset in relations with the EU a cornerstone of his third year in Downing Street, opening the door to a new regulatory deal and a youth mobility scheme.
However, Eurosceptics have warned that buckling to Brussels’s demands on regulations could constitute a Brexit betrayal.
The Cabinet Office is said to be exploring other sectors which could soon witness closer alignment with the bloc, including the automotive and chemical industries.
Despite pursuing closer ties with the bloc, Downing Street insists it intends to avoid alignment in areas where Brexit has proved innovative for the UK.
Sectors likely to avoid regulatory changes include AI, financial services and the development of gene-edited crops.
Mr Stephens’s warning about the impact of closer alignment threatens to worsen relations between Washington and London following a bumpy few months for the Prime Minister.
The US President, who still described Sir Keir as a “friend”, accused the Prime Minister of being “no Winston Churchill” after the UK initially refused to let America launch missile strikes on Iran from British bases.
Mr Trump has also lashed out at Sir Keir over the Chagos Islands and Greenland, accusing the Labour leader of being too dependent on his advisers.
However, the pair managed to strike a bespoke trade deal in 2025 as Mr Trump embarked on an unprecedented second state visit.
King Charles is now expected to travel to Washington for a return visit in April.
Despite pressure mounting on the monarch to cancel his trip, Mr Stephens said: “I think that would be a very big mistake.”
He added: “I think he will go and I think it will be a very meaningful trip for him.”
Investment Minister Lord Stockwood also used the BCC event to downplay fears of a fractured special relationship.
The former Grimsby Town chairman said: “Nothing has changed in those conversations. In Davos, while all that stuff was going on about Greenland, I met seven of the biggest CEOs and businesses in the US.
“Genuinely, and to simplify this, politics will do, what it’ll do, and we will have to deal with that. But, on a day to day basis, and the winds of change quite dramatically and quite frequently, businesses still want to invest here, businesses still want to come here.”
Nevertheless, Mr Stephens refused to reject Mr Trump’s Churchill jibe at Sir Keir, insisting: “That’s a pretty tough comparison for anyone, I think.”
A UK Government spokesman said: “The US and EU are vital partners for the UK. Our strength lies in maintaining both of these historic alliances, always in the British national interest.
“We will take this cool headed approach forward to increase our economic growth and create British jobs.”