London 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 | Edition 4 | February 2, 2021
1. Policy Exchange think tank claims US trade deal "blown by Kim Darroch": The report identifies a litany of shortcomings in Washington and places much of the blame for the trade deal impasse on failed British diplomacy in the aftermath of the Brexit referendum in 2016.
2. The Queen will lead a post-Brexit charm offensive by hosting Biden at Buckingham Palace before the G7 summit in Cornwall in June. She will be joined at the "soft power" reception by senior members of her family to cement the "special relationship" between the UK and America.
3. Team Biden doesn't trust Johnson because of his ties to Trump: "Boris has said a lot of stuff. He's aligned himself with people like Steve Bannon. He has been public about his dismissals around President Obama's birth." -- Ashish Prashar, a Biden-Harris campaign surrogate
4. Scotland's first minister Sturgeon deftly trolled Johnson by suggesting the UK premier's visit north of the border last week was not "essential" under COVID-19 rules. Look for Johnson and his colleagues venturing north more frequently to save the Union.
5. Planting his feet on Scottish turf is not risk-free for Boris Johnson. Not just because the visit gave Sturgeon fodder for an easy jibe over traveling during a lockdown. The Conservatives are acutely aware that the PM's political personality is a turn-off for many voters in Scotland.
6. Support for Scotland's independence poses a threat to 313-year Union: A second independence vote may be held by Christmas if the SNP wins an expected majority in May. Nat Michael Russell, the Constitution Secretary, said a second vote could be held six months after Holyrood passes a referendum bill — expected in June.
7. A year on — how the UK feels about the COVID crisis: Voters remain forgiving of the UK government, but just 41 percent of voters think the government has done as well as possible. In the poll, only 17 percent think life will be back to normal by spring.
8. The UK will apply to join a free trade area with 11 Asia and Pacific nations. Joining the group of "fast-growing nations" will help boost UK exports. The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) covers a market of around 500 million people.
9. PM Johnson estimates about 300,000 Hong Kong citizens will take advantage of a new visa route to leave the former British colony and settle in the UK. China's National Security Law is expected to prompt departures.
10. Boris Johnson's green conversion: In December, the PM set out a 10-point plan for a "green industrial revolution" that he hopes will be at the core of his administration. A robust green agenda will help Johnson build a relationship with Team Biden.
