From the outset, Kendall Myers appeared determined to explode what he described as the “myth” of the special relationship between Britain and the United States. It had never existed, he said in his opening remarks, “or, at least, not one that we noticed”.

Instead, relations had been “altogether too one-sided” for a very long time. “The poodle factor did not begin with Tony Blair, it began, yes, with Winston Churchill.”

At this point Dr Myers acknowledged that “as an employee of the State Department” he perhaps ought not to say so much. But analysis is what he does for Condoleezza Rice, he was at an academic forum — speaking at Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies in Washington on Tuesday night — and his provocative historical views were gathering an unstoppable momentum...

The other speakers on Tuesday night all agreed that, if there ever had been a special relationship, it would never again be quite as special as it had been during the Bush-Blair era — even though culture, economy and defence would still bind the two nations.

Anatol Lieven, a fellow of the New America Foundation, described how British public opinion had moved decisively against America, and not just against Mr Bush...

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