BFFs! UK and Mass Bury the Hatchet After 250 Years

David Clay, British Consul General to New England, speaks during a press conference in the Senate Reading Room on Wednesday, July 30, 2025.

Alison Kuznitz/SHNS

Times change.

With commemorative events in full swing across the state marking the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution in which folks from the Bay State were shooting at British soldiers, lawmakers and United Kingdom officials on Wednesday launched the Massachusetts Friends of the UK Legislative Caucus.

The bipartisan group, which is intended to strengthen economic and historic ties between Massachusetts and the UK, will be co-chaired by House Minority Leader Brad Jones, Rep. Susannah Whipps and Sen. Dylan Fernandes.

The UK is the top international investor in Massachusetts, and the overall trade relationship is valued at $5 billion annually, said David Clay, British Consul General to New England. British subsidiaries also employ more than 41,000 people across the state, according to the British Consulate-General Boston.

"I've also met academics and scientists from the UK and Massachusetts working together to tackle some of the great scientific technological challenges of our age," Clay said at a press conference in the Senate Reading Room, as he reflected on his past year in Boston. "I've met some of the 200,000 British tourists that come to Massachusetts every year and have an amazing time. I've learned about our shared history at Lexington, Concord, Bunker Hill. There's been a few bumps in the road, but generally things have gone very well."

President Trump's tariffs and trade war threats have roiled longstanding global ties. Jones, a North Reading Republican, spoke about the importance of states investing in international relationships.

"We think there are tremendous opportunities," Jones said. "We look forward to this caucus expanding and having more members in the House and Senate become involved, and realize perhaps we're at a point in time where we need to look to the states to lead, perhaps more so than Washington to lead. And we're happy to take up that mantle to try to foster that relationship to even greater levels than it has been."

Whipps, an Independent from Athol, said the caucus expects to dive into business in early September, potentially with some members traveling abroad to visit the UK Parliament. A reception is slated for Wednesday evening at the consulate, Whipps and Jones said.