Sir Keir Starmer has unveiled 32 new envoys to regions across the world but did not appoint anyone to champion trade with the UK’s closest ally

Labour has not named a new trade envoy to the US despite the PM’s new stated enthusiasm for President Donald Trump

In a letter to Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, his Tory shadow Andrew Griffith criticised Labour’s reticent approach to dealing with Mr Trump.

A trade deal with the US was seen as the big prize of Brexit but successive governments have failed to strike an agreement due to sticking points over food standards.

The shadow business secretary wrote: ‘There are few better ways to increase growth than closer relations with the UK’s single largest trading partner.’

He urged Sir Keir to engage with the US – something countries including China and Canada have already done – to prevent tariffs being imposed on British goods and services.

He wrote: ‘I was therefore disappointed that not a single minister or official in your department has engaged with President Trump or his administration following his election.

‘It sends completely the wrong signal that not one of the Prime Minister’s newly appointed trade envoys is focused on trade with the United States.’

He added: ‘If this work does not commence urgently, the consequences of any tariffs will lay squarely at the door of your department.’

Earlier this month – ahead of Mr Trump’s inauguration – there were reports that Sir Keir was scrambling to secure trade talks with the US.

Sir Keir’s ally and former deputy leader of the Labour Party Lord Tom Watson is the new South Korea trade envoy

In a letter to the Business Secretary , Tory shadow Andrew Griffith shadow business secretary wrote: ‘There are few better ways to increase growth than closer relations with the UK’s single largest trading partner’

But there have also been suggestions that he will aim for closer trading relations with the EU.

There were also questions about some of the PM’s other appointments, including of Labour MP Kate Osamor who threatened a journalist.

The former frontbencher was made trade envoy to East Africa despite a series of controversies in her past.

In 2020, she was ordered to apologise to the House of Commons after telling a journalist: ‘I should have come down here with a f****** bat and smashed your face open’.

The MP for Edmonton and Winchmore Hill was also found to have twice breached parliamentary rules in relation to her drug-dealer son, who she employed in her office.

She was suspended by Labour last year after she marked Holocaust Memorial Day by calling for Israeli action in Gaza to be remembered as ‘genocide’.

After issuing an apology for the ‘inappropriate’ remarks, she later had the party whip restored.

Fellow Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy was made trade envoy to Ghana despite criticising Sir Keir for his reluctance to discuss reparations at a Commonwealth summit.

There were also questions about some of the PM’s other appointments, including of Labour MP Kate Osamor (pictured) who threatened a journalist. The former frontbencher was made trade envoy to East Africa

Lord Ian Austin of Dudley (pictured) has been re-appointed as trade envoy to Israel. The former MP quit Labour in 2019 over what he said was a ‘culture of extremism, anti-Semitism and intolerance’ in the party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership

She is chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Afrikan Reparations, which aims to explore ‘how best to redress the legacies of African enslavement and colonialism’.

There were also roles for close allies including for former deputy leader of the party, Lord Watson, who was made South Korea trade envoy.

Carolyn Harris, Sir Keir’s former parliamentary aide and the MP for Swansea East, becomes the UK’s envoy to New Zealand.

The Department for Business and Trade also confirmed that Lord Ian Austin of Dudley would be re-appointed as trade envoy to Israel.

The former MP quit Labour in 2019 over what he said was a ‘culture of extremism, anti-Semitism and intolerance’ in the party under Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said: ‘Trade and investment are key to delivering economic growth, the number one mission of this Government and a key part of our Plan for Change.

Labour MP Bell Ribeiro-Addy was made trade envoy to Ghana despite criticising Sir Keir for his reluctance to discuss reparations at a Commonwealth summit

‘That’s why I’ve launched a new team of Trade Envoys, who will use their experience, expertise and knowledge to unlock new markets around the world for British businesses, drumming up investment into the UK and ultimately driving economic growth.’

Downing Street said the envoys were focused on markets where they can have the most impact, rather than places like the US, where they said the UK already has sophisticated diplomatic trade and investment networks.

Turkey and Taiwan are among markets that will be targeted because they have ‘significant potential’ for growing UK trade, the department said.

A new trade strategy is due in spring which will prioritise rebuilding ties with the EU and accessing other new markets.