LONDON: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy on Thursday expressed concern about a meeting between former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Speaking on the LBC radio morning show, Lammy admitted to presenter Tom Swarbrick that he was unaware the meeting was taking place.
Johnson shared a photo on social media of their encounter at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, commenting afterward that Trump was in good spirits and they had discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
When asked if Johnson had followed protocol by informing the UK Foreign Office about the meeting, Lammy responded, “I’m not sure Boris Johnson consults either Keir Starmer or us on his plans. And I certainly didn’t know.” Lammy declined to comment on whether the meeting went against UK national interests when pressed by Swarbrick.
“The record will show that I had a friendship with Barack Obama before he became President of the United States,” Lammy added.
“About a year into his office, he was working with David Cameron as Prime Minister. I would never have done anything to undermine UK national interests at that time. So, your point is a serious one. I would expect all former Prime Ministers to act in the UK’s best interests and not interfere, especially so soon after leaving office.”
“You know, I’m not interested, actually, in the past. I’m interested in the future.”
“You know, I’m not focused on the past. I’m focused on the future,” Lammy concluded.
