The U.S.-Israel war on Iran has fueled a disagreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Britain hasn't joined in the strikes on Iran and Trump said in an interview published in a British tabloid on Tuesday that the trans-Atlantic relationship is "not what it was." Starmer initially blocked U.S. planes from using British bases for the first attacks that began on Saturday. He later allowed U.S. bombers to use bases in England and the island of Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean to strike Iran's missile program. Starmer told lawmakers that "any U.K. actions must always have a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan."
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned as dangerous comments by Elon Musk, who told an anti-immigration rally in London that violence is coming to Britain and urged people to fight back. The event organized by far-right campaigner Tommy Robinson saw violence by a minority of those attending with 26 police officers injured and 25 arrests. Starmer's spokesman said, "The U.K. is a fair, tolerant and decent country, so the last thing the British people want is dangerous and inflammatory language." Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey urged Starmer to consider sanctions against Musk. Starmer has emphasized the importance of peaceful protest and condemned violence against police and intimidation based on background or skin color.
French President Emmanuel Macron praised his country's ties with Britain on the first day of a state visit. The trip that began on Tuesday mixes royal pageantry with thorny political talks about stopping migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats. Macron and U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer will also try to advance plans for a post-ceasefire security force for Ukraine. Macron addressed Britain's Parliament and said that even though Britain has left the EU, it "cannot stay on the sidelines." Macron's three-day stay is at the invitation of King Charles III. It is a symbol of the U.K. government's desire to reset relations with the bloc after Brexit.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have signed a 100-year partnership agreement. It's part of a European show of support to continue helping Ukraine prevail in its nearly three-year war with Russia. The announcement on Thursday came days before Donald Trump is sworn in as U.S. president with what he says is a plan to end Europe's biggest war since World War II. Starmer said that the landmark century-long agreement commits the two sides to cooperate on defense and on technology projects including drones.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer says a "standing army" of specialist police will be set up to deal with rioting and the justice system will be ramped up to deal with hundreds of arrests after violent disorder rocked cities across the nation over the past week. Starmer has held an urgent meeting with ministers and top law enforcement officials as he seeks to end violence and attacks on immigrants, mosques and hotels housing asylum seekers. Starmer has called such attacks far-right thuggery. Misinformation spread online has whipped up anger over a stabbing rampage at a dance class that left three girls dead and many more wounded.
Britain's new prime minister, Keir Starmer, says he will lead a "government of service" on a mission of national renewal. The comment came in Starmer's first official remarks after his Labour Party swept to power in a landslide victory after more than a decade in opposition. Starmer led his party back to government less than five years after it suffered its worst defeat in almost a century. But Labour also faces a mammoth task of reinvigorating a stagnant economy and dispirited nation. Conservative leader Rishi Sunak in a farewell address said he understood voters' anger and took responsibility for the loss. He then went to Buckingham Palace and offered his resignation to King Charles III.
