Story Highlight
– David Lammy hosts US Vice President JD Vance in Kent.
– Discussions focus on US-UK relationship topics.
– Vance visiting UK on private family holiday.
– Both share backgrounds and Christian faith.
– Bilateral meeting planned before family gathering at Chevening.
Full Story
David Lammy, the UK Foreign Secretary, is set to welcome US Vice President JD Vance at Chevening House, his official residence in Kent, on Friday. According to a statement from the White House, the two officials will engage in discussions focused on various aspects of the relationship between the United States and the United Kingdom.
Vance, who is in the UK for a private family holiday, is anticipated to spend a significant portion of his leisure time in the Cotswolds, with plans also in place to visit Hampton Court Palace.
Chevening House, a Grade I listed property, has historically been utilized by UK Foreign Secretaries for official engagements. The estate boasts extensive gardens, including a lake and a maze, enhancing its appeal as a venue for diplomatic meetings.
Since taking up his role last year, Lammy and Vance have met frequently during various official trips, forging a rapport that reportedly stems from their shared Christian beliefs. During a visit to Washington in March, Lammy participated in a mass at Vance’s residence, and it is believed he is now reciprocating this hospitality by inviting Vance and his family to stay at Chevening.
In an interview with BBC Breakfast last summer, Lammy expressed the connection he feels with Vance, stating, “Let me just say on JD Vance that I’ve met him now on several occasions, we share a similar working-class background with addiction issues in our family. We’ve written books on that, we’ve talked about that, and we’re both Christians. So I think I can find common ground with JD Vance.”
The bilateral meeting between the two leaders will be followed by a gathering of their families at Chevening. This visit by Vice President Vance follows a recent trip to Scotland by former President Donald Trump, who engaged with various leaders, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, prior to an upcoming state visit in September.
