Kam on, America, Britain and the entire world needs you to do your duty

The stakes could not be higher – or graver – for all of us if deranged Donald should take back control, says Mirror columnist Kevin Maguire on eve of knife-edge US President election

Hoping for the best and ­preparing for the worst, Keir Starmer knows Kamala Harris (hurrah!) or Donald Trump (boo!) in the White House is a US choice that will hugely affect Britain and the world.

If Joe Biden’s vice president Harris retains the top job for the Democrats in tomorrow’s knife-edge contest, the sighs of relief in Downing Street would power a wind farm.

Should deranged Donald take back control with his Republican mob, it will be tin-hat time. The stakes could not be higher, or the consequences of a Donald Trump victory graver.

Trashing Nato and surrendering democratic Ukraine to Putin’s invaders would be a terrifying disaster for the whole of Europe. China’s dictator Xi Jinping might view Trump’s isolationist policy as a green light to blockade or grab Taiwan.

Should Trump give Israel ­permission or assistance to strike Iran’s oil fields and nuclear facilities there is a risk of global economic ­meltdown. Trade wars cost jobs ­everywhere – Trump’s man-toddler tantrums are never thought through.

And what about in America itself, a country in which he incites, not confronts, racists and bigots, and divides but never unites.

The sleazy liar who launched a failed coup in January 2021 and still falsely claims he won a 2020 election he lost fairly, squarely and legally calls himself a dictator and is branded a fascist by top generals who served him after 2016.

Inevitably shameless, Trump will claim victory once again even if Harris clearly triumphs.

His threats against opponents, smearing of institutions, disrespect for the US constitution and promises of massive tax cuts and power for puppeteers such as Elon Musk are positively Putinesque.

Britain’s plastic patriots who ­champion Trump – Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, Nigel Farage and their ilk – do our country no favours yet they may collect big fees as thanks.

Starmer knows he’s powerless until the result is declared. After that he’s still pretty powerless should Trump be heading for the White House.

Flattery is a weapon but Britain would be isolated and vulnerable on the world stage.

Quitting the European Union, a rival block to Trump’s Wild West USA, would look stupider than ever.

Clarkson knows diddly squat

Talking manure as usual, self-interested Tory reactionary Jeremy Clarkson oinking about family farms smacks of protecting his £4.25million Diddly Squat that the tractormouth admitted buying to avoid inheritance tax.

Informed estimates are that fewer than 100 inherited family farms – not 70,000 – out of 209,000 holdings might be liable for the halved (20%) tax on values beyond £3m – not £1m – to fund the NHS, schools and rural services.

Rachel Reeves might have been wrong on not needing big tax rises but I hope she cuts down wealthy landowners like Clarkson who cynically try to hide behind a few small farmers.

Bucolic ravings against paying their fair share echo many of the same bloodsports pack screeching against the end of unleashing hounds to savage deer, badgers and foxes.

Old MacDonald had a scam, E-I-E-I-O

And on that scam he had a loophole, E-I-E-I-O

With a loophole here and a loophole there

Here a loophole, there a loophole, everywhere a loophole

Old MacDonald lost his scam, E-I-E-I-O.