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Lib Dems urge Starmer to visit Canada to back incoming PM Mark Carney in his stand against Trump
Good morning. Keir Starmer and his government are set for a demanding week in domestic politics. Today marks the second reading of the crime and policing bill, followed by the publication of the planning and infrastructure bill tomorrow. This will include an announcement on energy bill discounts for residents living near new pylons. Additionally, on Thursday, the Prime Minister is scheduled to address Whitehall reforms. Nonetheless, much of the focus remains on the ongoing crisis involving Trump and Ukraine.
Last night, Mark Carney, the former governor of the Bank of England, was appointed leader of the Liberal Party in Canada, effectively positioning him to become prime minister. While Canadian election results rarely capture significant attention in UK politics, Carney has vowed to stand firmly against President Trump’s controversial remarks regarding the annexation of Canada. In the UK, Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, is calling on Starmer to consider a trip to Ottawa this week “to demonstrate solidarity with Canada’s new prime minister in the face of Trump’s threats.” Davey stated:
It is crucial for the security of both Britain and Canada that we remain united. Given the increasing global instability, it has never been more important to present a united front alongside our Commonwealth partners and to collectively oppose Trump’s arbitrary pressure on allies, whether they are in Canada, the UK, or Europe.
In light of the escalating trade tensions along the North American border, our prime minister should express solidarity against Trump’s intimidation tactics by visiting Ottawa. Starmer must categorically assert that Trump’s threats against the sovereignty of Commonwealth nations cannot be tolerated.
The Liberal Democrats have historically made calls for action that often lack feasibility—such as their typical advocacy for the recall of parliament during the summer months. While Davey may not anticipate a favorable response from Starmer, he has certainly struck a chord. Starmer faced criticism from Canadians last month during a press conference with Trump at the White House, where he sidestepped a question about Trump’s position on Canada, asserting that the journalist was “attempting to create a divide between us that does not exist.” Today, with King Charles attending a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, there will be heightened anticipation regarding any remarks that could be perceivably linked to Trump’s divisive proposals regarding Canada, where he serves as head of state. As Sam Blewett pointed out in his London Playbook briefing for Politico:
Trump’s allies will undoubtedly be on the lookout for any subtle messages from Charles, especially following the positive reception he afforded to Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Sandringham shortly after Zelenskyy faced criticism from Trump and JD Vance in the Oval Office. This gesture resonated, with a US government official stating to Playbook that “people definitely saw it.” Observers will be keen to see if Charles wears a maple leaf tie during the service.
This situation illustrates the Liberal Democrats’ efforts to leverage Starmer’s understandable hesitation to publicly criticize Trump. Recently, Davey challenged Starmer in the Commons to acknowledge that under Trump, the US has become an unreliable ally regarding Russia. Starmer disagreed, which may have been the pragmatic response from a prime minister needing to negotiate with Washington, but it reflects a more complicated reality.
Here is today’s agenda.
10.30am: Family members of the late Tory MP David Amess, calling for a judge-led public inquiry into his murder and his killer’s interactions with Prevent, will hold a press conference prior to meeting with Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
11.30am: A lobby briefing is set to take place at Downing Street.
1pm: Polling expert and Tory peer Robert Hayward will provide insights on the upcoming local elections.
2.30pm: Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education, will field questions in the Commons.
Afternoon: Michael Gove, former minister of the Cabinet Office, will present evidence to the Covid inquiry regarding PPE procurement.
3pm: Keir Starmer and other political figures will join King Charles at Westminster Abbey for the Commonwealth Day service.
After 3.30pm: Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, will open a debate on the second reading of the crime and policing bill.
Additionally, Angela Rayner, the deputy PM, and Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy, are expected to conduct a visit linked to the upcoming planning and infrastructure bill, set to be published tomorrow.
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Updated at 10.50 CET
Keir Starmer has shared a message on social media congratulating Mark Carney on his upcoming role as Canada’s Prime Minister. However, he has not committed to a visit to Ottawa in the immediate future. Starmer emphasized:
Congratulations to @MarkJCarney on his appointment as Canada’s new Prime Minister. I look forward to our collaborative efforts on shared international priorities, especially within the G7, and to strengthening the UK-Canada relationship moving forward. Best wishes to @JustinTrudeau as he concludes his tenure; I wish him success in his future endeavors.
Source
www.theguardian.com