Joe Biden is coming to St Ives

For his first trip abroad since becoming president Joe Biden has decided to stay in a gorgeous hotel overlooking a bay near St Ives in Cornwall. I don't blame him. It's a fabulous spot. OK he's coming for work and won't be dabbling his feet in the water. The Secret Service wouldn't allow him to anyway in case his toes get chewed by one of those delicious crabs they have in Cornwall. The hotel is where the G7 leaders will be meeting in June to try and save the world. Biden has done pretty well so far and this will be the first occasion for him to mix and mingle with the leaders of Canada, United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. When Donald Trump was the president these occasions were fraught with anxiety and trepidation and bewilderment and amazement and anticipation and relief (when he left). With Biden it's going to be terribly matey and back-slapping and smiles and, of course, unanimity. Everyone will sign the final statement and there will be promises of a new era of consensus. With so much bonhomie and unity it will mark an historic change from the Trump days. Less interesting for the media, but welcome for the leaders of the developed world who spent four years on tenterhooks. I don't think the room will go quiet and deferential when Biden makes his first entrance, it will be more, hey Joe, good to see you. But for all our sakes that's perhaps the way it should be. As for the location, St Ives is a wonderful harbour town that's all lit up at night. The fish and crab and clotted cream are exceptional. I hope Biden and co get fish and chips followed by sticky toffee pudding and a blob of clotted creamon on top. That'll get them all happy and in the mood. On the last day they could all walk on the sandy beach without their shoes on. It would be a great picture if nothing else.