South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge warned against too much concern about a Donald Trump presidency – but said the most important issue for this country was his attitude to NATO.
During the presidential election campaign Mr Trump said he felt America should cut back on its commitment to NATO and that if European countries felt the need for more protection against a potential Russian threat they should do more for themselves.
Mr Cartlidge said this was a concern – but he was not convinced that President Trump would go ahead and reduce America’s commitment to the alliance.
The MP felt there were echoes of the aftermath of the EU Referendum in the reaction to the Trump victory.
Mr Cartlidge said: “As someone on the Remain side in the referendum debate, I was concerned that the warnings that were coming out were so extreme that they could cause problems if the result went the other way.
“We did see a big reaction immediately after the leave result – but that soon corrected itself and the economy straightened itself out.
“I think the same thing will happen once we see how Mr Trump settles into the job – certainly he has said the right conciliatory things in his victory speech.”
But he was concerned about the future of NATO: “That is the most important issue arising out of Mr Trump’s victory so far as this country and Europe is concerned.
“However I suspect that once he looks at the issue in detail there will not be the major changes some might be expecting.”
One area that Mr Cartlidge thought could be good for Britain following Mr Trump’s win was the prospect for trans-Atlantic trade.
“He has made it quite clear that in the wake of Brexit he would be looking for a good trade deal with the UK as a major priority for him – and that could be really good news for this country,” Mr Cartlidge said.
Colchester MP Will Quince had been prepared for the result: “I would like to say that I was surprised by the result but I wasn’t, I always thought it was the most likely outcome.
“We are where we are and to Donald Trump, I congratulate him, it was clearly a hard fought campaign.
“Without doubt they are our closest ally and we will need to keep working with them, and that will only get stronger in a post Brexit environment.”
Meanwhile Ipswich council leader David Ellesmere was dismayed at the result. He said: “This is a bad day for anyone with savings or with pensions.
“It will bring in a period of great uncertainty in the world – and that is just what business does not need.”
Published by the East Anglian Daily Times.