Rishi Sunak hails 'confident, proud and free' Britain's new US trade and ... trends now
Rishi Sunak hailed the 'indispensable alliance' between the UK and US tonight as he revealed a new transatlantic trade and defence security deal with Joe Biden's administration.
The Prime Minister said Britain was a 'confident, proud and free' nation after leaving the European Union as he met the president at the White House for the first time.
The Atlantic Declaration, announced as the Prime Minister and US president met in smoky Washington, includes commitments on easing trade barriers, closer defence industry ties and a data protection deal.
But it falls short of a full free-trade deal with the United States. Mr Sunak has spent a great deal of political capital on improving the so-called 'Special Relationship', seen as having been battered by rows over Northern Ireland Brexit rules.
However, there still appears to be no immediate prospect of a trade deal - which was very much on the cards when Donald Trump was commander-in-chief.
Pressed on the trade deal, Mr Sunak insisted at a press conference 'the economic relationship between our two countries has never been stronger'.
The Prime Minister said Britain was a 'confident, proud and free' nation after leaving the European Union as he met the president at the White House for the first time.
The PM met the US president in the Oval Office on his first visit to Washington, with economic issues and Ukraine high on the agenda.
Rishi Sunak arrived at the White House tonight as he woos Joe Biden over trade and military cooperation
Rishi Sunak (left) is preparing to woo Joe Biden (right) over trade and military cooperation in talks at the White House today
A poll for MailOnline shows that Brits regard Mr Biden as more pro-EU than pro-UK, although he is also rated more favourably than his predecessor
He arrived at the White House tonight on a mission to woo Joe Biden over trade and military cooperation.
The PM met the US president in the Oval Office on his first visit to Washington, with economic issues and Ukraine high on the agenda.
Asked by reporters about the special relationship between the UK and the US, Mr Biden gave a thumbs-up and said it was 'in real good shape'.
Former UK ambassador to the US Lord Darroch has voiced concerns that 'for all the inevitable smiles and pats on the back' there 'doesn't look to be much real warmth in the Anglo-American relationship'.
A poll for MailOnline shows that Brits regard Mr Biden as more pro-EU than pro-UK, although he is also rated more favourably than his predecessor.
The president was accused of a series of 'anti-British' snubs when he visited the island of Island recently, spending just a few hours in Belfast before a lengthy stay in the Republic - where he often boasts of having heritage.
Mr Sunak waved as he was driven up to the door of the residence,
