The UK Government should sue US President Donald Trump for 100 billion dollars for the damage caused to the UK by trade tariffs, Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey has insisted.
The Lib Dem branded Mr Trump the “most dangerous, damaging US president of modern times” as he welcomed a “brilliant” decision by the US Supreme Court on Friday which struck down trade tariffs imposed by the president last April.
In the wake of that decision Sir Ed told the Scottish Liberal Democrats conference that the UK Government should now take legal action against the White House.
Speaking at the event in Edinburgh the Liberal Democrat said: “My advice today to Keir Starmer is to sue Donald Trump for 100 billion dollars for the damage he has caused to Scotland and our country.
“It’s the only language he understands.”
The Liberal Democrats leader told the Press Association he had “long said Keir Starmer’s approach is wrong” when it comes to relations with the US and Mr Trump.
“You can’t kowtow to a bully,” he argued, adding he did not think the Prime Minister had “achieved anything in his trade negotiations” with the US.
Sir Ed insisted: “I would take a different view, I would sue Donald Trump for the damage he has caused to our economy, to jobs, to businesses, to investment, to the cost of living.”
He praised Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney for having “stood up” to the US president, as he argued the UK should be looking to strike trade deals with different countries as an alternative to doing business with Mr Trump.
“The UK Prime Minister should not yield to a bully,” Sir Ed said.
“He should look at trade deals with our partners in Europe, a new EU-UK customs union, and with other countries, Commonwealth countries like Canada, so we have alternatives.”
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