Lonon Calling is a weekly rundown of the top ten emerging issues from the past seven days shaping US-UK commercial relations.
London Calling is for global communication strategists and C-Suite executives.
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Memo: London Calling | January 12, 2021
1. UK-US race for mini trade deal slowed by Trump's mob crisis: Bloomberg reports, even a limited trade deal with the US would be hailed as a big post-Brexit win. That's because the chances of quickly striking a comprehensive deal with Team Biden will be hampered by transition delays and other US legislative priorities.
2. The UK will try to add new provisions on climate change and environmental standards in US trade negotiations to woo Biden. UK Trade secretary Liz Truss wants to build on current US negotiations and add protections on air pollution and corporate transparency on climate change.
3. UK also getting serious about climate: Kerry's counterpart in Britain, Business Secretary Alok Sharma, stepped down from his post and will now focus on his tasks as president of the COP26 climate talks. Sharma will remain in Cabinet and report directly to PM Johnson.
4. Help wanted on climate: The Cabinet Office is currently advertising for a Relationship Manager - Influencers and Civil Society to sell Britain's "climate action" efforts and role in the COP26 - the UN's annual climate change summit meeting - to "high profile influencers around the globe."
5. Trump was "completely wrong" to cast doubt on the US election and encourage supporters to storm the Capitol, PM Johnson has said. The UK prime minister said he "unreservedly condemns" Trump's January 6 actions.
6. One in five people in England may have had the coronavirus, a much greater number than suggested in official figures, the Guardian reports.
7. PM Johnson is planning to host a virtual meeting of G7 leaders next month as he starts his presidency of the wealthy nations' forum at a pivotal moment for the UK and the global economy.
8. Britain is splintering beneath the Brexit king: Alex Massie opines, the very English revolution that took us out of Europe has widened cracks between the home nations that now threaten the Union's future.
9. Independence for Scotland: The movement has grown since the country's referendum in 2014, where Scots voted by 55% to remain in the UK. According to a recent poll in the Scotsman newspaper, independence is currently 16 points ahead.
10. Westminster voting intention:
CON: 40% (-1)
LAB: 37% (-2)
LDEM: 8% (-)
GRN: 4% (-)
OTH: 11% (+2)
via Savanta ComRes
