What might be the implications for the UK of the second Trump presidency?

Many government departments and thinktanks will be drinking the strong coffee this morning as they ponder the implications.

For what it is worth, probably:

1 – more refugees from Eastern Europe, starting with Ukraine

2 – more rightwing regimes being elected in EU countries in the coming years

3 – trade with China becoming more volatile

4 – world powers realigned around (a) authoritarian, (b) western liberal, (c) what used to be called the non-aligned South

5 – soft power overseas becoming more important.

On the first point, most refugees are working age people, some with children, both much needed in the ageing UK, so the priority task will be to manage community cohesion and integration, possibly with a focus on language skills and training.

On points 2, 4 and 5 we might begin to see the political, economic and cultural advantages of a more internationalist agenda.

Fingers crossed.