New US ambassador to Britain insists Joe Biden does like the UK

New US ambassador to Britain Jane Hartley insists Joe Biden does like UK and transatlantic relationship is ‘strong’ despite his criticism – but she repeats warning that EU Brexit row risks undermining peace in Northern Ireland

• Jane Hartley is the new US representative in the UK, replacing Woody Johnson
• President Biden is of Irish heritage and has taken a harder line against the UK
• Recently likened British treatment of Irish Catholics to Palestine/Israel conflict
• Hartley said Biden’s ‘personal relationship … with the UK is incredibly strong’

The new US ambassador to Britain has played down the idea of Joe Biden disliking Britain and insisted that the transatlantic relationship remains ‘incredibly strong’.

Jane Hartley spoke out in her first major interview after being appointed the American representative in the UK, replacing Woody Johnson.

President Biden is of Irish heritage and has taken a harder line against the UK than predecessor Donald Trump over Brexit and trade.

Most recently he likened British treatment of Irish Catholics to the current Palestine/Israel conflict. 

But asked by Times Radio whether the president had a ‘cool’ attitude towards Britain, Ms Hartley said: I really don’t think so. I remember when I was talking to them about this ambassadorship throughout the White House and the President, they emphasised to me that this was the most important position…

‘The personal relationship that the President has with the UK is incredibly strong. I mean, we know we know that we stand together. 

‘We know we have the same values. It’s never been more clear than it is now in terms of our support for freedom and democracy in terms of what we’re doing in Ukraine. And we know we need each other. And I think if you talk to the president, that’s exactly what he would say.’

However, she also reiterated the president’s warning that the simmering UK- EU row over Northern Ireland threatened the longstanding peace of the country. 

Jane Hartley spoke out in her first major interview after being appointed the American representative in the UK, replacing Woody Johnson, left

President Biden is of Irish heritage and has taken a harder line against the UK than predecessor Donald Trump over Brexit and trade. Most recently he likened British treatment of Irish Catholics to the problems faced by Palestinians at the hands of Israel.

However, she also reiterated the president’s warning that the simmering UK- EU row over Northern Ireland threatened the longstanding peace of the country.

Ms Hartley called for further talks on the post-Brexit Irish Sea trading arrangements ‘for the sake of Northern Ireland’.

She told Times Radio: ‘What we’re saying is please have conversations and get this dialogue going again.

‘There has to be a way that both sides can come to some agreement, you know, and negotiation and negotiation, everybody always has to give a little.

‘But this is an important time. The Good Friday Agreement, it will be 25 years in April. We want what we see up there – the peace, prosperity and security – to continue.

‘What we would urge is, please, this is not, we’re not part of this negotiation, but we would urge please sit down, sit down privately, and let’s see if there’s a way to make this work for both sides.’

Ms Hartley is a former ambassador to France and Monaco. Before her diplomatic career she was the chief executive of economics and political advisory firm Observatory Group.

The 72-year-old married mother-of-two previously worked for Democrat president Jimmy Carter in the late 1970s. 

Her comments come amid a breakdown in relations between London and Brussels over the UK Government’s controversial plan to pass legislation at Westminster which would empower ministers to unilaterally rip up the bulk of the protocol.

It was put to her that it sounds as though she wants the negotiations to continue and that the US is not therefore necessarily supporting the EU in its legal action against the UK.

She replied: ‘I don’t want to comment on the EU, but our key commitment, our key statement here, our key policy, what we’re really proposing privately and publicly, is sit down and let’s figure out how we can make this work for the sake of Northern Ireland, for the sake of the economy, for prosperity, for security – it’s important.

‘Indecision is never a positive in terms of economic investment and things like that.’

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