It was an iconic moment in the 2003 film "Love Actually" when Hugh Grant played the British prime minister, whose character clearly resonated with then prime minister, Tony Blair, and stood up to the American president. It captured how subordinate this country has become to the United States since 1945 and criticised Mr. Blair's stance on the Iraq War that year, which showed he was willing to support the then US president, George W. Bush, no matter what.
Britain has been used as a bridge between the US and Europe
To many critics, it appears that the "special relationship" has meant more to the UK than the US in the past.
To most British leaders, this alliance equals a deep and special bond between two English speaking democracies. But to many American leaders, Britain has been used as a bridge between the US and Europe.
Following the Second World War, America has had a special interest in ensuring that Europe is as united as possible to prevent another world war on this continent and to build up a trading bloc that rivalled the Soviet Union. During the 1975 Common Market Referendum, the CIA funded the In campaign as they wanted the UK to remain a member of the then European Economic Community to preserve Western European unity in the face of Soviet hegemony.
There is no doubt that this "special relationship" was damaged during the Obama years.
The former president not only snubbed Gordon Brown during the latter's final days in office and removed the Churchill bust at the White House, but he threatened British voters during last year's EU Referendum with the ultimatum that Britain will "be at the back of the queue" if voters chose to leave the trading bloc.
With a pro-Brexit President occupying the Oval Office, Donald Trump represents the UK's best hope of achieving a trade deal with its closest ally.
But a "soft" Brexit would jeopardise both countries' hopes of reforming this "special relationship." President Trump is the first US leader since 1945 to breakaway from the consensus that Britain should integrate into a European trading bloc. This means America will no longer have any self-interest in protecting the EU.
A transitional deal is the worst possible solution
This is why Tory Eurosceptics are right to urge the Prime Minister to walk away from her negotiations with the EU with no deal. The UK would be fine under World Trade Organization rules and Brussels is not interested in providing this country with a trade deal. It would establish a precedent for other member states to leave and push for a similar outcome.
A transitional deal is the worst possible solution to reforming the "special relationship." It would disable Britain's ability to forge a trade agreement with the US for another three years post-Brexit. By 2022, Donald Trump will be preparing to leave office. This is the UK's golden opportunity to trade with nations whose economies are growing. Mrs May must not squander it.
