Page 2 - Britain Pm

Starmer reshuffles Downing Street team to reset govt after first year

The moves are an attempt by Starmer to get a grip of his administration after criticism that he has lacked direction on overall strategy as well as on policy areas ranging from economy to immigration

Trump's private Scotland visit poses diplomatic test for UK's Starmer

The two leaders have struck up an unlikely partnership this year, with Trump repeatedly commenting on their positive working relationship in spite of the Starmer's left-wing politics

Trump's Scotland visit for golf course launch blurs politics, business ties

Lashed by cold winds and overlooking choppy, steel-gray North Sea waters, the breathtaking sand dunes of Scotland's northeastern coast rank among Donald Trump's favourite spots on earth. At some point, maybe in my very old age, I'll go there and do the most beautiful thing you've ever seen," Trump said in 2023, during his New York civil fraud trial, talking about his plans for future developments on his property in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. At 79 and back in the White House, Trump is making at least part of that pledge a reality, travelling to Scotland on Friday as his family's business prepares for the August 13 opening of a new course it is billing as the greatest 36 holes in golf." While there, Trump will talk trade with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a meeting he's said will take place at probably one of my properties. The Aberdeen area is already home to another of his courses, Trump International Scotland, and the president also plans to visit a Trump course near Turnber

France's Macron makes state visit to UK with migration, Ukraine on agenda

French President Emmanuel Macron arrives in Britain on Tuesday for a state visit mixing royal pageantry with thorny political talks about stopping migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats. Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also try to advance plans for a post-ceasefire security force for Ukraine, despite apparent US indifference to the idea and Russia's refusal to halt the onslaught on its neighbor. Macron's three-day visit, at the invitation of King Charles III, is the first state visit to the UK by a European Union head of state since Brexit, and a symbol of the British government's desire to reset relations with the bloc that the UK acrimoniously left in 2020. The president and his wife, Brigitte Macron, will be driven to Windsor Castle by horse-drawn carriage, greeted by a military honor guard and treated to a state banquet hosted by the king and Queen Camilla. The British royals made a state visit to France in September 2023. Macron also will address

Starmer faces down revolt over welfare reform after first year in office

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer marks a year in office this week, fighting a rebellion from his own party over welfare reform and reckoning with a sluggish economy and rock-bottom approval ratings. It's a long way from the landslide election victory he won on July 4, 2024, when Starmer's center-left Labour Party took 412 of the 650 seats in the House of Commons to end 14 years of Conservative government. In the last 12 months Starmer has navigated the rapids of a turbulent world, winning praise for rallying international support for Ukraine and persuading US President Donald Trump to sign a trade deal easing tariffs on UK goods. But at home his agenda has run onto the rocks as he struggles to convince British voters and his own party that his government is delivering the change that it promised. Inflation remains stubbornly high and economic growth low, frustrating efforts to ease the cost of living. Starmer's personal approval ratings are approaching those of Conservative Pr

Starmer moves to quell Labour mutiny ahead of key welfare policy vote

After a U-turn on disability benefit cuts, Starmer will spend Monday urging Labour MPs to support a revised plan ahead of a crucial vote that could test his authority within the party

UK to buy F-35 jets capable of carrying nuclear bombs: PM Keir Starmer

The United Kingdom will buy 12 US-made F-35 fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear bombs and will join NATO's shared airborne nuclear mission, in a major expansion of its nuclear deterrent, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Wednesday. The government called it the biggest strengthening of the UK's nuclear posture in a generation. Starmer made the announcement while attending a NATO summit in the Netherlands. NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte welcomed the decision, calling it yet another robust British contribution to NATO. The UK phased out air-dropped atomic weapons in the 1990s after the end of the Cold War. Its nuclear arsenal now consists of submarine-based missiles. Only three NATO members the US, Britain and France are nuclear powers, while seven nations contribute to the alliance's nuclear mission by contributing jets that can carry either conventional weapons or American B61 bombs stockpiled in Europe. The use of nuclear weapons by the UK as part of the mission woul

Third man charged over fires at properties linked to UK PM Keir Starmer

A third suspect has been charged with arson over a series of fires targeting property linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, police said Wednesday. Petro Pochynok, 34, has been charged with conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life. The Ukrainian national is scheduled to appear at London's Westminster Magistrates' Court on Wednesday morning. Two other men have already been charged with setting fire to Starmer's personal home, along with a property where he once lived and a car he had sold. They are Ukrainian national Roman Lavrynovych, 21, and Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 26. Lavrynovych and Carpiuc have already appeared in court and were ordered detained until a hearing on June 6. No injuries were reported from the fires, which occurred on three nights in north London between May 8 and May 12. Starmer and his family had moved out of his home after he was elected in July, and they live at the prime minister's official Downing Street residence. A Toyota RA

Second man charged over fires at properties linked to UK PM Keir Starmer

A second man was charged Tuesday over a series of fires that targeted properties linked to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, police said. Romanian national Stanislav Carpiuc, 26, from Romford, east London, is accused of arson with intent to endanger life, the Metropolitan Police said. He had been arrested at Luton Airport, north of London, on Saturday. Last week, Roman Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian national, appeared in court on charges of setting fire to Starmer's family home, along with a property where he once lived and a small SUV he had sold. Lavrynovych, 21, didn't enter a plea Friday at Westminster Magistrates' Court to three counts of arson with intent to endanger life but denied the charges in a police interview. An unnamed 34-year-old was also arrested Monday in Chelsea, west London, on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life, the Met said. He remains in custody. No injuries were reported from the fires, which occurred on three nights in north Londo

Ukrainian man charged over fires at properties linked to UK PM Keir Starmer

A 21-year-old man was charged Thursday with three counts of arson for fires that targeted two properties and a car linked to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The Metropolitan Police force said Roman Lavrynovych, who was arrested Tuesday, was charged with arson with intent to endanger life. The charges are linked to three incidents over the past week a car fire on May 8, a fire Monday at Starmer's private home that damaged the door of the house, and a fire Sunday outside a north London house converted into apartments connected to the U.K. leader. No injuries were reported from any of the fires. Lavrynovych, a Ukrainian national, is due to appear in court on Friday. After he was arrested, Lavrynovych remained in custody after warrants of further detention were obtained, the police said in a statement. Starmer moved with his family to the prime minister's official Downing Street residence after taking office in July. The investigation was led by counterterrorism detectives as it

UK police investigate after fire erupts at Keir Starmer's London house

Nobody was hurt in the incident, though the front door was damaged and a cordon remains in place on the street and police is present at the site

UK PM, European leaders call US tariffs 'new era for global economy'

Starmer also expressed disappointment over the new tariffs but emphasised that the UK would continue to act in its national interest

UK breaks from EU stance, opts against swift tariff retaliation on US

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds called the US decision to impose 25 per cent levies on foreign metal products without exemptions on Wednesday morning "disappointing"

Special relationship with US will flourish under Trump: UK PM Keir Starmer

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has spoken of the relationship shared by the UK and the US as a uniquely close bond which would continue to flourish as Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as the 47th President of the United States of America in Washington DC on Monday. Extending warmest congratulations on behalf of the British government, Starmer sought to focus on Trump's historical ties with the UK a reference to his familial connection through his Scotland-born mother. He stressed that the second Trump presidency would see both nations tackle "global challenges" together as they work towards growth on both sides of the Atlantic. For centuries, the relationship between our two nations has been one of collaboration, cooperation and enduring partnership. It is a uniquely close bond. Together, we have defended the world from tyranny and worked towards our mutual security and prosperity, said Starmer in a statement released by 10 Downing Street in London. With President Trump's

UK grooming gang scandal reignited, Elon Musk, British MPs raise subject

Musk criticised the UK's handling of such crimes, directly calling out former CPS head and current Prime Minister Keir Starmer

Worker shortages raise doubts over Britain's plan to build for growth

Britain has long lacked candidates to fill jobs, a problem made worse by the 2016 Brexit vote and Covid-19, with vacancies higher than their level before the pandemic

PM Keir Starmer plans reform of UK state in bid to counter criticism

Starmer's reset moment, including six 'milestones' designed to be tools to measure the government's progress, instead triggered more disquiet and confusion about his strategy

UK retail sales plunged more than expected before new govt's budget: ONS

A monthly rise in sales in September was also revised down to 0.1 per cent from a previous estimate of a 0.3 per cent gain

UK PM Starmer seeks India trade deal even Sunak couldn't pull off

The UK's trading relationship with India was worth £42 billion in the 12 months to June 2024

UK PM Starmer says owners of shares don't count as 'working people'

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggests he's willing to raise taxes on investors