SHMD

OTOH, Biden and Pelosi both stated that any US-UK trade deal would depend on all aspects of the Irish accord being honoured.

Whilst this might, at face value, be lauded, was it not they that cried foul over external influence in US political affairs.

Can either of them spell H-Y-P-O-C-R--I-T-E?

That man will still be too close to the red button for the next 78 days at least

Fair comment about Trump and the "nuclear football".

Thankfully, I understand, there's a bit more to it than one individual pushing one button. I don't know the details - don't want to know, either - but I'm aware that input from a few people would be required.

As for Boden and Pelosi pointing out that all aspects of the Anglo-Irish Accord need to be honoured, I don't see this as hypocrisy. The UK Government of the day signed up to this treaty - and it's international law (which I seem to recall had US help in brokering it).

Can we really expect an incoming US administration to play an active part in breaking international law?  I sincerely hope not.

External interference in elections in a number of countries (including the US - and, I've been led to understand, the UK) is a completely different matter. Disinformation campaigns - and other acts to sabotage an election - are every bit as illegal as actively attempting to prevent the timely delivery of ballot papers - every bit as illegal as a whole slew of other schemes to disenfranchise legitimate voters. They are also every bit as illegal as encouraging people to attempt to vote more than once.

Or how about inciting armed thugs to descend on places where votes are being counted - to demand a "right" to get close enough to the "action" to be able to see individual ballot papers? Whatever next - refusing to allow specific ballot papers to be counted because the voters committed the heinous "crime" of voting for the "wrong" person?

A number of US citizens find actions like these repugnant - nothing to do with which political parties might stand to gain or lose - they are clear attempts to undermine an election.

On the other hand, I've got no issue with senior US politicians making it clear that they have no wish to be involved in creating a trade deal that would breach international law.