It’s easy for the British to insult Donald Trump – but here’s why it’s a very bad idea | Simon Jenkins

A majority of Britons may want Kamala Harris to win the US election, but antagonising a powerful potential ally is unwise

Is it wise for Britons to heap abuse on Donald Trump? At present he is the marginal favourite to win next week's US presidential election - with Britons strongly behind his opponent Kamala Harris. But is overt hostility sensible?

Most recent polls show two out of three Britons want Harris to win, including a majority even of Conservatives. The Labour party sent about 100 activists to aid Harris in some swing states. The UK media is almost universally hostile, calling Trump crass, illiterate, vulgar, coarse and fascist. He is identified with the Heritage Foundation's authoritarian Project 2025, which he has disowned. Only Reform UK is for Trump. Surely dignity would counsel respect for an ally's internal democracy, and caution in alienating the leader of Britain's most powerful ally.

Simon Jenkins is a Guardian columnist

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters section, please click here.