ENERGY Secretary Ed Miliband did his shift in US President Donald Trump’s firing line today after signing a green energy pact with California Governor Gavin Newsom.

Mr Trump used an interview to say “the UK’s got enough trouble without getting involved with Gavin Newscum,” using an infantile and derogatory nickname for the Californian, who is widely expected to run for president in 2028.

“Gavin is a loser. Everything he’s touched turns to garbage. His state has gone to hell, and his environmental work is a disaster,” he added.

The US president’s blunt warning that it was “inappropriate” for Britain to be dealing with the governor doubtless had Sir Keir Starmer in a cold sweat, since the Prime Minister is desperate to avoid giving offence to the White House.

However, Sir Keir no longer has the political wherewithal, after last week’s brush with eviction from office, to rein in Mr Miliband, regarded as one of the cabinet’s few effective performers.

Mr Newsom, who has been attacking Trump on everything from the behaviour of ICE to the climate crisis, signed a memorandum of understanding in London with Mr Miliband.

It seeks to deepen existing co-operation between Britain and California, with a new framework to develop clean energy technologies and stronger links between businesses and researchers in Britain and the US state.

Britain and California will also share practical expertise on protecting biodiversity and building resilience amid extreme weather, the Energy department announced.

Mr Miliband said: “Strong international partnerships like the announcement with the state of California strengthen opportunities for UK businesses and secure investment for our country.”

Mr Newsom was in London on his way home from the Munich Security Conference, where he said that “Donald Trump’s administration is temporary. California’s commitment is not.”

The US president’s rant was doubtless triggered by the combination of his political enemy Mr Newsom and mention of climate change. Mr Trump has been busy scrapping every US commitment to tackle the latter, and last week repealed the 2009 scientific finding that climate change is inimical to human health.

Reform party leader Nigel Farage said this week that Mr Miliband was the likeliest successor to the drifting Sir Keir. However, the energy secretary has repeatedly and publicly ruled out any intention to stand for the post.