US V-P Vance to meet British Foreign Minister Lammy during ‘private holiday’ in Britain

LONDON – British Foreign Minister David Lammy will on Aug 8 meet US Vice-President J.D. Vance, who is on holiday in the country, Britain’s government confirmed.

Mr Lammy will host Mr Vance at his country retreat in Chevening in Kent, south-east of London, the British Foreign Office said in a statement on Aug 7.

“The Vice-President and his family will stay at Chevening House throughout the weekend for a private holiday,” the ministry added.

The statement said the pair “will discuss shared priorities and the strength of the UK-US relationship”, without elaborating further.

British media outlets have reported that Mr Vance and his family – he has three young children – will then spend some time in the Cotswolds region in western England for a summer holiday.

Although they have differing political stands, Mr Lammy and Mr Vance are believed to have struck up a warm relationship, bonding over their difficult childhoods and shared Christian faith.

The British Foreign Secretary reportedly attended mass at the US Vice-President’s residence in Washington in March.

Mr Vance’s visit comes after US President Donald Trump

spent five days at his golf resorts in Scotland

in July.

Mr Trump

signed a trade deal

with European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen and held a freewheeling press conference with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his stay.

He also played golf and

opened a new 18-hole course

at one of his two Scottish resorts.

Mr Trump is due back in Britain for a state visit in September. AFP