US Vice President JD Vance arrived in the UK on Friday for a bilateral meeting with UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy at Chevening, the Foreign Secretary’s historic country residence in Kent, before embarking on a family vacation in the Cotswolds. Despite their contrasting political ideologies Vance as a conservative Republican and Lammy as a Labour Party stalwart—the two have forged a personal bond over shared working-class roots and Christian faith, setting the stage for discussions on critical global issues.
The meeting at Chevening, a 17th-century Grade I-listed mansion set on 3,000 acres, comes as the UK seeks favorable terms for steel and aluminum exports in a broader trade deal with the US, announced in June 2025. The talks are also expected to address Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, where Washington and London have divergent approaches. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has emphasized Ukraine’s inclusion in peace negotiations, contrasting with President Donald Trump’s focus on direct talks with Vladimir Putin, who expressed hopes of meeting Trump next week ahead of a US-imposed deadline for progress on ending the Ukraine war. On Gaza, Starmer’s pledge to recognize a Palestinian state by September, absent an Israeli ceasefire, clashes with the US view that such recognition could embolden Hamas.
Lammy and Vance’s relationship, strengthened by shared experiences of challenging upbringings, has grown through prior engagements. Lammy attended Mass at Vance’s Washington residence in March 2025 and met him again at the US Embassy in Rome during Pope Leo XIV’s inauguration in May. “JD completely relates to me,” Lammy told The Guardian, citing their “dysfunctional” childhoods marked by family struggles with addiction. This personal connection has fostered a rare cross-party rapport, with Lammy hosting Vance, his wife Usha, and their three children Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel at Chevening before their families join for the visit.
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Post-meeting, the Vances will head to the Cotswolds, a picturesque 800-square-mile region known for its quaint villages and rolling countryside, popular among affluent American tourists. The family has reportedly rented a house in Charlbury, 12 miles west of Oxford, and plans to visit Hampton Court Palace. The Cotswolds’ allure, recently highlighted by the high-profile wedding of Eve Jobs and British equestrian Harry Charles, has drawn celebrities and elites, with journalist Plum Sykes noting its “super-hot, super-social” appeal to Americans. The visit follows Trump’s recent trip to his Scottish golf courses, where he met Starmer and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, signaling robust US-UK ties ahead of Trump’s state visit in September.
The meeting, however, is not without tension. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged Lammy to press Vance for tougher US sanctions on Russia, warning against Trump being swayed by Putin’s ceasefire promises. Protests are also planned, with the Stop Trump Coalition vowing to confront Vance in the Cotswolds over US policies, particularly on Gaza, where Starmer’s push for Palestinian statehood has sparked debate. Despite past criticisms Lammy once called Trump a “neo-Nazi sympathizer” but later dismissed it as “old news” the Foreign Secretary has softened his stance, emphasizing diplomacy.
As Vance and Lammy navigate trade, Ukraine, and Gaza, their Chevening talks underscore the enduring US-UK “special relationship” while highlighting the challenges of aligning on global crises. For now, Vance’s family holiday in the Cotswolds offers a brief respite from the diplomatic spotlight.
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