North Alabama hosted an international visitor from the mother country over the weekend as Lord Ross Kempsell of the British House of Lords toured the upstate along with U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville).
1819 News caught up with Aderholt and Lord Kempsell at City Harbor in Guntersville, where Kempsell arrived by boat after spending the night with a friend of Aderholt, discussing the finer points of British and American politics.
Over a southern classic breakfast of biscuits and gravy, Lord Kempsell recounted his time in the Yellowhammer State, which included a tour of TVA's Wilson Dam near Muscle Shoals and the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville.
"I was thrilled to be able to tour northern Alabama and get to know the wonderful culture and hospitality of this part of the United States," Kempsell said. "The distinct cultural, musical and sporting excellence of the state will stay with me."
Kempsell was sworn into the House of Lords in July 2023 after being nominated for a life peerage by outgoing former Prime Minister Borris Johnson. Kempsell served as a special adviser for Johnson during his time as prime minister, using his background in journalism as a contributing editor of Guido Fawkes — a popular right-wing U.K. political website — and expertise as political director of the Conservative Party and director of the Conservative Research Department.
At 32, Kempsell remains Johnson's most trusted adviser.
Kempsell's trip to America — including a visit with former President Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention — was sponsored by the U.S. State Department's International Visitor Leadership Program, a long-running program to help governmental leaders of allied countries, including former Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and Tony Blair, learn more about how American politics function.
Aderholt said he's been participating in the program for nearly 15 years. However, this year was the first time he was paired with a member of Parliament's upper house.
"I was glad to be able to show Lord Kempsell the Fourth District and North Alabama. We visited the Shoals, Huntsville, Guntersville and DeKalb County. So, he really got a feel for what the real South is like," Aderholt told 1819 News. "I've always supported this exchange program because the U.K. is our strongest ally and it's always important for us to have a strong working relationship with our counterparts there."
Kempsell agreed with Aderholt, saying he hoped to strengthen the already strong bonds between the two countries, which face similar cultural, economic and political issues.
"I would like to thank Congressman Aderholt and his family for hosting me and for the generoU.K.hospitality of the communities I visited within Alabama. The U.K. and U.S. special relationship is fundamental to global security," he said. "Now more than ever we require strong leadership and an assertive special relationship. The ties between the U.K. and U.S. are very deep and go beyond politics. We are the world's two leading democracies."
Kempsell was particularly interested in the level of industry and investment surrounding Huntsville, with its aerospace industry and the Redstone Arsenal. He compared it to a similar region in the U.K. called "the Gold Triangle," between Oxford, Cambridge and London.
"I am also hoping that we can build an even stronger economic relationship between our two countries, and I have been particularly inspired by the job creation and investment made possible by strong Republican leadership in Alabama," Kempsell said.
Aderholt said he expects to hear more from Kempsell as they potentially discuss how to "forge a trade agreement to get Alabama-produced goods and food to the U.K."
To connect with the story's author or comment, email daniel.taylor@1819news.com or find him on Twitter and Facebook.
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