Starmer insists relationship with Trump has not been jeopardised by ‘blatant foreign interference’ complaint
Sir Keir Starmer has insisted his relationship with Donald Trump has not been jeopardised after the Republican candidate’s team accused Labour of “blatant foreign interference” in the US election.
The prime minister said on Tuesday he had “established a good relationship” with Mr Trump despite the Trump campaign filing a legal complaint against Labour officials travelling to the US to volunteer for Kamala Harris in the tightly fought presidential race.
The complaint, filed with the independent Federal Election Commission, alleged that the volunteering by Labour Party members, coupled with reports of contact between senior Labour operatives and the Harris campaign, amounted to “illegal foreign campaign contributions and interference” to help Mr Trump’s Democrat rival in the US presidential election.
Sir Keir sought to downplay the row and role Labour Party activists were playing in the US election as he travelled to Samoa for the annual Commonwealth heads of government summit.
Speaking to reporters on the 28-hour flight over, the PM stressed Labour Party members were going over as volunteers rather than on the Labour Party books.
“The Labour Party has volunteers, who have gone over pretty much every election,” he said.
“They’re doing it in their spare time, they’re doing it as volunteers, they’re staying, I think, with other volunteers over there. That’s what they’ve done in previous elections, that’s what they’re doing in this election and that’s really straightforward.”
Pic: AP
The Labour Party has insisted it is not funding the travel or accommodation for activists. Federal election rules stipulate foreign volunteers can’t spend more than $1,000 (£770) helping candidates.
However, in filing the complaint, Mr Trump’s legal team cited media reports that Labour Party officials, including the prime minister’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and Matthew Doyle, Downing Street’s director of communications, had travelled to the US in recent months to advise the Harris campaign.
The Trump team also cited a now-deleted LinkedIn post by Sofia Patel, director of operations for Labour, that suggested the party could be paying accommodation costs for activists, with the post stating “we will sort out your housing”.
“Those searching for foreign interference in our elections need to look no further than [the] LinkedIn post,” said the letter from Trump campaign lawyer Gary Lawkowski. “The interference is occurring in plain sight.”
Mr Trump’s lawyers say such support breaches US campaign finance laws, as they count as contributions from foreign actors, and they demanded an “immediate investigation” into what they called “blatant foreign interference” in the election.
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Starmer and Trump ‘established a good relationship’
The prime minister argued the row would not jeopardise his relationship with Mr Trump should the Republican candidate win the election, insisting the pair had “established a good relationship” when they dined at Trump Tower together last month.
Sir Keir said: “I spent time in New York with President Trump, had dinner with him, and my purpose in doing that was to make sure that between the two of us we established a good relationship, which we did, and we’re grateful for him for making the time for that dinner.
“We had a good, constructive discussion and of course, as prime minister of the United Kingdom I will work with whoever the American people return as their president in their elections, which are very close now.”
The tensions between the ruling Labour Party and possible next US president come as the prime minister travels to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) on the Pacific island of Samoa this week, where he hopes to discuss trade opportunities ahead of next week’s historic budget.
His team back in Downing Street and the Treasury are putting the finishing touches on, in the words of one insider, an “unprecedented” budget that looks to bridge a shortfall of £40bn.
To plug the gap, the prime minister and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, who insisted ahead of the election they had “no plans” to raise taxes beyond what was laid out in the manifesto, are now rolling the pitch for a mix of big tax increases and spending cuts.
With such big stakes back home, coupled with a difficult run for a prime minister beset by rows over freebies and dysfunction in Number 10, one former adviser wondered aloud to me this week whether Sir Keir was spending too much time overseas when he should be focused on the domestic agenda back home and resetting his missions more clearly with the public.
However, he and his team defended the prime minister’s decision to travel to CHOGM a week before the budget, arguing these summits help to reset Britain’s relations in the world and drive trade.
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‘Difficult choices’ in Reeves’ budget
One of his staffers noted the 56 Commonwealth nations’ economies are set to be worth $19.5trn (£15trn) by 2027 and these are markets worth tapping into.
But it is true too the leaders of the biggest Commonwealth economies are not in attendance.
Fellow G7 leader Justin Trudeau of Canada is not making the long trip to Samoa, while India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa are in Kazan as Russian President Vladimir Putin plays host to 36 world leaders at a BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) summit.
Pressure over question of reparations
Meanwhile, the prime minister is also under pressure from some Labour MPs and Caribbean governments over reparations for countries affected by slavery and colonialism.
While Sir Keir is clear he doesn’t plan to engage in this discussion at the summit, it is nevertheless rising up the agenda.
This week, the Commonwealth will select a new secretary general and all three candidates vying to replace Patricia Scotland, the former Labour cabinet minister who’s been in post since 2016, have called for reparations for countries affected by slavery and colonialism.
But as the first sitting British prime minister to visit a Pacific island in a formal capacity, the prime minister will want to make the case his is, to quote one staffer, a “once in a generation opportunity” to harness the Commonwealth.
With tensions back home over the budget and the man who could be the next president of the United States, unity this week with old allies is what he needs.
UK
GPs can prescribe weight loss jabs on the NHS from today – but strict eligibility criteria in place
GPs will be able to prescribe weight loss jabs on the NHS from today.
About 220,000 people with the “greatest need” are set to receive Mounjaro – with strict criteria for the first year of the rollout.
Initially, only those with a body mass index of over 40 who have at least four other health problems linked to obesity will be eligible.
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Some doctors have raised concerns about the additional workload this new programme will bring, while pharmacists fear it could lead to supply shortages.
While an estimated 1.5 million people are now taking weight loss drugs across the UK, they could previously only be accessed through specialist services or private prescriptions.
Dr Claire Fuller from NHS England said: “We urgently need to address rising levels of obesity and prioritise support for those who are experiencing severe ill health – and greater access to weight loss drugs will make a significant difference to the lives of those people.”
She added: “While not everyone will be eligible for weight loss drugs, it’s important that anyone who is worried about the impact of their weight on their health discusses the range of NHS support available with their healthcare professional.”
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Weight loss drugs ‘changing way we see obesity’
The chairwoman of the Royal College of GPs welcomed NHS England’s decision to pursue a phased rollout, and said current workloads must be factored in to ensure the jabs can be prescribed safely.
Professor Kamila Hawthorne went on to say: “While weight loss medications have a lot of potential benefits for patients who are struggling to lose weight and who meet all the clinical criteria for a prescription, they mustn’t be seen as a ‘silver bullet’ to aid weight loss.
“We also need to see a focus on prevention, stopping people becoming overweight in the first place so they don’t require a medical intervention later.”
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Her remarks were echoed by the National Pharmacy Association’s chairman Olivier Picard, who says “prescribing these medications alone misses the point”.
He argued that they need to be part of a comprehensive strategy that includes lifestyle coaching, exercise and nutritional guidance – but many GPs currently “lack the bandwidth” to provide this support.
“As a result, we could end up in a situation where patients are prescribed the medication, lose weight, and then experience rebound weight gain once the course ends – simply because the foundational lifestyle changes weren’t addressed,” Mr Picard added.
Estimates suggest about 29% of the adult population is obese.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting says the government “is determined to bring revolutionary modern treatments to everyone who needs them, not just those who can afford to pay”.
UK
Met Police chief ‘frustrated’ at planned protest to support Palestine Action – as government moves to ban the group
Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley says he is “shocked and frustrated” at a planned protest in support of Palestine Action.
The demonstration, due to take place in Westminster later, comes as the government moves to ban the group under anti-terror laws.
Activists from Palestine Action hit the headlines last week after targeting RAF Brize Norton and damaging two military aircraft in a significant security breach.
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Home Secretary Yvette Cooper will update MPs on the move to proscribe the organisation, which would make it a criminal offence to belong to or support it.
Sir Mark said that – until this happens – the force has “no power in law” to prevent the protest from taking place, but lawbreakers will be “dealt with robustly”.
He added: “This is an organised extremist criminal group, whose proscription as terrorists is being actively considered.
“Members are alleged to have caused millions of pounds of criminal damage, assaulted a police officer with a sledgehammer and last week claimed responsibility for breaking into an airbase and damaging aircraft.
“Multiple members of the group are awaiting trial accused of serious offences.”
He added that – while the right to protest is essential – “actions in support of such a group go beyond what most would see as a legitimate protest”.
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Trump’s golf course in Ayrshire was vandalised by Palestine Action. Pic: PA
Over the weekend, Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said he could not rule out the possibility of a foreign power being behind Palestine Action.
Any move to proscribe the group must be debated and approved by MPs and peers.
Speaking to Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips on Sky News, former justice secretary Lord Charlie Falconer suggested that vandalising aircraft would not solely provide legal justification for such a move.
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Plans to ban activist group criticised
Lord Falconer said: “I am not aware of what Palestine Action has done beyond the painting of things on the planes in Brize Norton, they may have done other things I didn’t know.
“But generally, that sort of demonstration wouldn’t justify proscription so there must be something else that I don’t know about.”
Palestine Action has staged a series of protests in recent months – spraying the offices of Allianz Insurance in London, and vandalising Donald Trump’s golf course in Ayrshire.
Sir Keir Starmer has said stability in the Middle East is “a priority” following US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, as the world has reacted to the attack.
The prime minister also called on Iran to “return to the negotiating table” to “reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis”.
Follow latest: Iran considering ‘all options’ after US strikes
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US strikes on Iran explained
In a statement, Sir Keir said: “Iran’s nuclear programme is a grave threat to international security.
“Iran can never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, and the US has taken action to alleviate that threat.
“The situation in the Middle East remains volatile and stability in the region is a priority.
“We call on Iran to return to the negotiating table and reach a diplomatic solution to end this crisis.”
The UK was not involved in the strikes but was informed about them in advance by the US, Business Minister Jonathan Reynolds told Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips.
Sir Keir and Foreign Secretary David Lammy had been pushing for a diplomatic solution. On Thursday, the prime minister warned of a “real risk of escalation” in the conflict.
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Trump: Iran strikes ‘spectacular success’
The US struck three sites in Iran early on Sunday morning, with Donald Trump boasting the country’s key nuclear sites were “completely and fully obliterated” in an address to the nation from the White House and warned there could be further strikes if Iran retaliates.
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Israel‘s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Mr Trump for the strikes, saying: “Your bold decision to target Iran’s nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history…
“History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world’s most dangerous regime the world’s most dangerous weapons.”
UN secretary-general ‘gravely alarmed’ by US attack
But UN secretary general Antonio Guterres said he was “gravely alarmed by the use of force” by the US against Iran.
“This is a dangerous escalation in a region already on the edge – and a direct threat to international peace and security. There is a growing risk that this conflict could rapidly get out of control – with catastrophic consequences for civilians, the region, and the world.”
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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged all sides to step back and return to the negotiating table. “Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon,” she said in a post on X.
“I urge all sides to step back, return to the negotiating table and prevent further escalation,” she said, adding that EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation tomorrow.
Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Pic: Reuters
How the world reacted to the strikes
Cuba’s President Miguel Diaz-Canel said on X: “We strongly condemn the US bombing of Iran’s nuclear facilities, which constitutes a dangerous escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.
“The aggression seriously violates the UN Charter and international law and plunges humanity into a crisis with irreversible consequences.”
Venezuela’s foreign minister Yvan Gil said his country’s government “condemns US military aggression” and “demands an immediate cessation of hostilities”.
In a statement, an Australian government spokesperson said Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme “has been a threat to international peace and security”.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Isiba. Pic: Reuters
Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said it is “crucial that there be a quick de-escalation of the conflict”.
Italy’s foreign minister Antonio Tajani said after the attack that his country’s government hopes “a de-escalation can begin and Iran can sit down at the negotiating table”.
The US attack came after more than a week of strikes by Israel, which have significantly degraded Iran’s air defences and offensive missile capabilities, and damaged its nuclear enrichment facilities.
Israel’s strikes on Iran have killed at least 865 people and wounded 3,396 others, according to the Washington-based group Human Rights Activists. The group said of those killed, 365 were civilians and 215 were security force personnel.
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