No one expects politicians with very different views to agree on much.

But the language of diplomacy has evolved over the ages so that politicians can talk to each other calmly, politely and rationally to explore mutually beneficial ways of cooperation.

Many say we lost that – and that it made us poorer. David Lammy proves it. The Foreign Secretary will try to persuade Donald Trump not to increase tariffs on British exports to the United States. Hurting your closest allies, he says, is doomed to failure.

He’s right, of course. But his argument would have had more force if, as a backbencher in 2018, he had not called Mr Trump – then still president – ​​a “sociopath neo-Nazi sympathizer” and a “hatted tyrant” .

What is even more extraordinary is Mr Lammy’s lack of foresight. It was entirely conceivable that one day the Labor Party would come to power and have to deal with Mr. Trump.

David Lammy will try to persuade Donald Trump not to increase tariffs on British exports to the United States. His argument would have been stronger if he hadn’t called Mr. Trump a “toupee tyrant” in 2018.

The Foreign Secretary’s lack of foresight is extraordinary, given that it was entirely conceivable that Labor would one day come to power and be confronted by Mr Trump.

Beyond virtue signaling to activists, what gain is there in insulting the leader of the most powerful democracy in the world?

He better hope that Mr. Trump’s elephantine memory fails him before trade negotiations begin.

Don’t rush the debate

There are legitimate arguments for allowing mercy killing of those who die of terminal illnesses in extreme pain and distress.

But there is a sense that Labor MP Kim Leadbeater’s bill to legalize state-sponsored suicide is being rushed through the Commons, without due scrutiny.

Last month, the Mail warned: “This issue is too important for knee-jerk politics.” We are happy that influential people listened to our warning.

A growing number of MPs from across the political spectrum are seeking to put the brakes on the controversial legislation.

Kim Leadbeater MP presents her Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill to Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The vote is scheduled for November 29

A vote is scheduled for November 29, but politicians fear that will leave too much time to examine and debate such a complex and difficult issue.

There are well-founded fears that the scope and scope of medically assisted dying could continue to expand, while the elderly and vulnerable may be forced by unscrupulous relatives to end their lives. .

The pro-euthanasia lobby has the loudest and most prominent voices, but that cannot determine who will win the battle. Only a calm and sober discussion can resolve this most thorny question.

Because assisted suicide is like Pandora’s box. Once opened, it will be impossible to close.

Be fair to farmers

The government’s denial that it has launched an all-out attack on Britain’s family farmers is growing thinner by the day.

Sir Keir says the “vast majority” will not be affected by the removal of exemptions which allow farms to be passed down from generation to generation without inheritance tax.

But is he telling the truth? The analysis suggests that a typical legacy farm would pay a tax bill far higher than the profits it could make from operating the fields.

Farmers protest outside the Northern Agricultural Conference against government plans to reform inheritance taxes

Do ministers not realize that some will have to sell all or part of their land to pay? Others will simply go bankrupt.

Labor recognizes that family farms are vital to feeding the nation. In an unstable world, it would be foolish to make ourselves more dependent on food imports.

Sir Keir insists this tax grab is not a class war attack on those who own land.

In this case, it should make it easier, not harder, for farm families to do what they are supposed to do: grow crops and raise livestock.