Would Theresa May’s Brexit plan destroy the prospect of a US trade deal?

Analysis: The US ambassador has said the PM’s EU withdrawal deal would make a favourable trading arrangement with Trump’s America impossible. Is he right? asks Ben Chu

Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, greets Melania and Donald Trump on their UK visit in July (AFP)

The traditional role of an American president is to act presidentially and the role of his ambassador abroad is to be diplomatic.

Donald Trump hasn’t paid much regard to tradition since he won the White House. So we probably shouldn’t be too surprised that his man in London hasn’t lived up to his role either.

Woody Johnson, the US ambassador to the UK, said today that if the UK parliament approves Theresa May’s Brexit deal, the chances of an ambitious trade deal with America are effectively dead.