"Our country must stand up to Trump": Slough Lib Dem Chair, Cllr Frank O'Kelly and party Leader Sir Ed Davey

“Threats of punitive tariffs, talk of annexing territory, and public doubt cast over NATO commitments are deeply destabilising.” Cllr Frank O'Kelly, Chair of Slough Lib Dems, said in response to the threats from US President Donald Trump to punish European allies who opposed his plans to use force if necessary to obtain Greenland.

Frank continued: “Sovereignty is not a bargaining chip, and international law is not optional. The Liberal Democrats stand firmly for the rule of law, for the self-determination of peoples such as those of Greenland, and for the collective security that NATO provides.

Our alliances are built on cooperation and trust, not coercion - and we should defend them calmly, clearly and without equivocation."

Cllr O'Kelly added: "If you would like to know more about what the Lib Dems are doing here in Slough please contact me on my councillor email address: Frank.OKelly@slough.gov.uk 

Also on 21 Jan, Sir Ed Davey, Lib Dem Leader, said:

"President Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on the UK for supporting the territorial integrity of an ally is a grave threat to our economy, our livelihoods, and our national security.

By demanding control of Greenland and threatening economic warfare on allies who support its sovereignty, Trump risks ending NATO which has kept us safe for 75 years. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping will be cheering him on.

Now is not the time to roll over. Yesterday in Parliament, I laid out why we must stand up to Trump

Trump is a bully, behaving like an international gangster. The only way to deal with a bully is to stand up to them.

That’s why the government must work with our European partners to make Trump back down from his reckless plans. That must include preparing retaliatory measures which would hit Trump and his cronies where it hurts, and to follow through on these unless he drops his tariff threat.

It's time to show that Britain stands with our allies and we won’t be bullied into submission.

For the sake of our national security and the future of the liberal, rules-based international order, we must stand up to Trump."