Christine Jardine has written for the Scotsman about how the UK should deal with the second Trump presidency.

Like most Lib Dems, she has focused on the need to strengthen our relationships with our European partners.

The news from the US dampened the mood at Westminster:

Wednesday morning too was cloaked in a cloud of gloom as MPs considered the prospect of an American president whose protectionist instincts and apparently dismissive attitude to Nato and European defence leaves us worried for the future. I do not want contemplate the dread that must have been felt in Ukraine about what it might mean for the support on which their war effort depends.

Then, of course, there are the implications for so many American women and their right to choose what is best for them and their bodies.

We need to work together, at home and with Europe:

But we also have to focus on what is best for us, the long-term good, and work together across the domestic political divide to ensure that our interests are well served.

We also need to work with our European neighbours to ensure that a threat to Nato’s future does not become a reality, and that we somehow rebuild the solid trading relationships that have been damaged by the bitter feud between the previous Conservative government and the European Union. If the new Labour government wants to reset our relationship with the EU, now is the time to do it.

And we must be aware of the dangers of populism here:

Populism is on the rise across Europe, the German government is at risk of collapse and Marine le Pen is still riding high in French opinion polls.

Neither can we ignore those in our own country, dissatisfied with the world as it is, who are turning to those same populist ideals.

You can read the whole article here.

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