The UK has new opportunities with the new Trump administration

There was a clear and resounding result in the United States this week, against many expectations. We often heard how close this race would be and many are surprised at how clear this win is. but it is good for democracy and it can be good for us in the United Kingdom.

We have already been through a tumultuous year in the U.K. A general election brought in a new government, quickly followed by a budget that promised to shake up our economy and challenge business as usual.

These changes could risk driving jobs out of the economy and hindering growth rather than stimulating it. With more and more young professionals in the cyber and AI sector looking to the U.S., we need to be very wary of losing too much talent across the Atlantic, so the U.K. government needs to look at how to really make its economy attractive and competitive. That is a good thing for free markets.

As consequential as these shifts within the U.K. are, they’re dwarfed by what’s happened across the Atlantic: the result of the U.S. presidential election. This was never just about who will lead America; it’s about who will take the reins of the world’s only superpower, a role that carries sweeping implications for the global economy and for Western democracies everywhere.

We now know the result and it is clear-cut. That is good for democracy.

A few years ago, an American politician told me that any Republican or Democrat could feel at home in the U.K.’s Conservative Party. Today, that’s no longer true on either side of the Atlantic. Since 2016, both nations have seen deeper ideological divides, with the U.K. Conservative and Labour darting across the political spectrum and America’s parties growing further apart.

This polarization makes it hard to predict how the U.K.-U.S. “special relationship” will look under new leadership in both countries. Yet, it is vital for the U.K. to continue to develop that relationship and we have much to offer the new President Trump. He has always been supportive of and positive about the U.K. and that is good news for us, we should welcome that.

There was no doubt in my time as secretary of State for Northern Ireland that when I visited the U.S. during the Biden administration there was a different relationship, a frustration with the U.K. over Brexit and what that meant. That was never the case with President Trump, he respected the decision the U.K. made.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. This year has been a pressure test for democracy worldwide, yielding surprising, and sometimes troubling, outcomes. Allies and adversaries alike have closely followed events, and the U.S. election is no different.

America, long revered as a beacon of freedom, remains a global symbol of hope. Yet the world doesn’t just look to America as an example — it feels the impact of its decisions in very real ways, especially when it comes to the economy.

Americans generally recognize this international reality. When the U.S. is divided, it sends shockwaves of insecurity around the globe, destabilizing economies, weakening alliances and casting doubt on the world’s most powerful democracy.

As difficult as it will be, if Americans can set aside their differences, to support their new president, they can help steady not only their own country but also the entire western world. This result is clear enough to support that happening quickly, unity isn’t just idealistic; it’s necessary. Democracy, free speech and a global free market depend on a stable, united America.

For the U.K., the stakes are just as high. With global attention shifting toward the pacific and China’s rising influence, our position on the world stage is no longer a given. Staying relevant means building deeper partnerships, especially with the U.S.

Our alliance has always gone beyond individual leaders; it’s been about shared values, defense and security. As we confront new political and economic challenges, this foundation will be crucial in keeping both our nations strong.

Is this hope for unity and stability idealistic? Perhaps. But the alternative is bleak. Conflicts continue in the Middle East and Ukraine, while our enemies sit back, all too willing to capitalize on and benefit from chaos.

President Trump has been clear about his views and will now have an opportunity — and a responsibility — to bring momentum to these crises, which would also help stabilize global security and economies. A forward-leaning U.K. government can provide invaluable support to the US’s global endeavors. With trade patterns shifting in ways that could undermine Western economies, we need a collective response to protect our mutual interests.

We are living in a world of pressing challenges but also a unique opportunity to defend and uphold our shared way of life. Here in the U.K., our Labour government must be prepared to work with the U.S. and President Trump to strengthen this alliance.

History has shown that both nations are stronger when united and working together. As global challenges grow, this partnership will be essential — for our economies, our security, and the preservation of democratic values worldwide.

Brandon Lewis was lord chancellor and secretary of state for justice in September and October 2022. He was previously secretary of State for Northern Ireland from February 2020 to July 2022.