Five Reasons the UK General Election Matters to the United States

Heritage Foundation ^ | May 5, 2010

[honestabe010]

British voters go to the polls on Thursday in the tightest political race in the UK in a generation. Several opinion polls have indicated the strong possibility of a hung parliament, with a Conservative minority government led by David Cameron as prime minister. In order to guarantee passage of legislation under this scenario, the Conservatives would be forced to negotiate with other political parties, significantly weakening the government’s power. Other polls, concentrating on key marginal seats, have pointed to a small Conservative majority, which would give Cameron, if elected, a far stronger mandate to lead on his own.

Here are five key reasons why the United States and American foreign policy may be directly affected by the outcome of this week’s election in Washington’s closest ally on the world stage.

1. The British Economy

Britain is facing a massive deficit crisis, which the next government will have to deal with. Unless the UK implements huge cuts in public spending, it could eventually face a Greek-style economic meltdown. The U.S. and British economies are closely interlinked through investment stock worth over $800 billion, with about a million American jobs depending on British companies and vice versa. UK direct investment accounts for a fifth of all foreign direct investment in the U.S. A hung parliament this Friday, which is a distinct possibility, would make it significantly more difficult to bring about much needed economic reform in Britain, and would have an immediately negative effect on the world’s two biggest financial markets in London and New York.

2. The “Special Relationship”

Under Gordon Brown and Barack Obama, the Anglo-American “special relationship” has reached its lowest point on a political level since the Suez Crisis of 1956. Rebuilding it will be a priority for a Conservative government...

[DesertRhino]

“the Anglo-American “special relationship” has reached its lowest point on a political level since the Suez Crisis of 1956”

IE,, when they were pissed that Ike wouldn’t have the USA enforce postwar British attempts to retain their colonial territories. And that is a classic example of the “special relationship”. They do almost nothing selflessly for us and see it as a one-way show.

[WilliamTells]

Yeah, Britain helping the US in Iraq was selfish. British soldiers dying in Afghanistan is selfish. Britain being the only country to let you use its airspace to bomb Tripoli, was selfish. You’re right, it’s been a one way street.

So I guess you must be fully behind your president’s studied insults of the UK?

[the scotsman]

And Korea. And the Persian Gulf.