As a political specialist, the mischief of the British politician Ed Davey could fill a prominent reel.
The leader of the Liberal Democrats of the United Kingdom has shaken from a giant crane to gather voters, peel sheep manure in a Welsh farm to protest against tax increases for farmers and fall from a blackboard to underline the risk of British wastewater on British river paths.
But now, with the tariff war of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, in full flight, Davey is trying to gather British voters with a new cause: support Canada.
For his last political trick, on Wednesday, Davey broke into a Canadian flag in a Canadian theme pub in downtown London and invited local media to dinner with him in a menu of Canadian Poutine, castor tails and Canadian beer.
“I want to make sure people know that British are with Canada,” Davey told CBC News at the improvised event at the Maple Leaf Pub in Covent Garden.
“President Trump is behaving recklessly, irresponsibly and treating Canada, one of his closest allies … in this way he is more than frightening.”
Davey, 59, directed Lib’s Democrats, as they are known, their best electoral performance in almost a century in last year’s elections, winning 72 seats and varying the party in a third solid place in Parliament.
Their unconventional acrobatics and attention calls were seen as one of the keys for voters to get involved with the party campaign.
“I think that if President Trump goes out with his with this type of behavior, whether Canada or any other person, frankly, he will harm everyone in the world,” Davey said as he dug into a Poutine dish.
“I think we have to choose,” he said. “We have to be behind Canada.”
In Parliament, Davey has repeatedly expressed his support for Canada, referring to Trump as a “games of games.”
On Wednesday, Davey demanded that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer immediately fly to Canada who sympathizes with his key partner of the Commonwealth.
In his response, Starmer specified, calling Canada “an important ally” while emphasizing Great Britain’s desire to negotiate an economic agreement with Trump that avoids punitive commercial measures.
Trump’s 25 percent tariffs on all imports of steel and aluminum in the United States, including Britain, were activated on Wednesday. The measure could affect approximately five percent of British exports, which makes them more expensive for US consumers, according to BBC.
While Starmer says he is waiting for any retaliation for the moment, the European Commission said Wednesday that it would impose counter-tarifas worth $ 28 billion in many goods.
“We are very interested in working with our European colleagues, but we are so interested in working with our Commonwealth colleagues too,” said Davey.
“And I think there is strength in the numbers and I think he sends a very, very large signal.”
On his last visit abroad as Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau met with King Charles to discuss what was called: “Sovereignty” issues.
Although Charles has not publicly talked about friction between Canada and the United States, the reports of the British media have suggested that the king is very worried.
In one of his recent public appearances, Charles was seen using his Canadian medals with his military uniform; He also planted a Canadian Arce tree on the lands of the Buckingham Palace to celebrate the environmental initiatives of the Commonwealth.
On Wednesday, King Charles granted a ceremonial sword to Gregory Peters, Usher of the black bar of the Canada Senate, according to a press release from the Buckingham Palace.
And at the Westminster Abbey ceremony that marks on the day of the Commonwealth on Monday, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, was dressed in red and white.
The High Commissioner from Canada to Britain, Ralph Goodale, told CBC News that he believes that Canadian’s shows were intentional and destined to show political support.
“Nothing happens by accident with the royal family,” he said.
Even so, most of the support that comes from Canada has been largely symbolic.
As with the measure of Starmer in the Parliament of Great Britain to Davey’s question, many foreign leaders have been careful not to offend or alienate the unpredictable US president.
“I have been very impressed in the way in which Canadian governments, whether Trudeau, and now Carney, have been strong against Trump,” Davey said.
As for his first foray into the Canadian Poutine, Davey joked that fries with gravity and cheese curd seemed “super healthy.”
“Who wouldn’t want it,” he joked.
