But the Brexiteer also suggested Britain was well-equipped to thrive even if an agreement is not forthcoming. The US President – whose great-grandfather emigrated from Ireland to the United States in the 19th century at the height of the Irish potato famine –has made no secret of his concerns about the impact he fears Brexit could have on 1998’s Good Friday Agreement, the landmark deal credited with bringing peace to the North.
Speaking yesterday, he referred to the struggles of his ancestors during his first press conference as President, when he was questioned by reporters about children at the Mexican border.
He said: “When my great grandfather got on a coffin ship in the Irish Sea, expectation was, was he going to live long enough on that ship to get to the United States of America?
“But they left because of what the Brits had been doing.
“They were in real, real trouble. They didn’t want to leave. But they had no choice.”
Mr Lowe told Express.co.uk: “For me, when we have so much to concern ourselves with regards to China, Russia and other countries as our liberal democracies are under threat, I think it’s sad that Joe Biden isn’t using his leadership of the free world to promulgate the sort of Anglo Saxon ethics of the individual.
“It’s regrettable that he seeks to dig up historical issues which frankly are completely irrelevant today, and doesn’t concentrate on more important things.”
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“I think at some stage there’s going to be a major restructuring of global trade through something other than the dollar.
“I don’t quite know how it’s going to happen. So I think the right thing for us to be doing obviously is maximising our historical ties with American but also we are right to be India and Asia for growing economies which hadn’t fallen yet to quantitative easing.
“They still believe in capitalism, and they’re still increasing their standard of living.
“And they still believe, you know, humanity marches forward by basically working hard and saving.”
With specific reference to Mr Biden’s affection for Ireland, Mr Lowe added: “Most American people aren’t sort of Irish nationalists.
“They believe in the relationship with Britain.
“We should all be working together because ultimately we’re similar people with similar views.
“It’s just disappointing that we can’t bring it together.
“Comments like that suggest he is completely out of touch to me.”
A Downing Street spokeswoman said the two leaders spoke on a range of issues this evening.
She added: “On Northern Ireland, the leaders reiterated their shared commitment to protecting the Good Friday Agreement.
“The Prime Minister looked forward to welcoming the President to Cornwall for the G7 Summit in June.”
