Trump warns it will be ‘tough’ for Starmer to survive as PM
Donald Trump weighed in on Sir Keir Starmer’s political future, warning it would be “difficult” for him to survive as prime minister.
The US president said Sir Keir, who is now facing intense pressure to resign, would struggle to stay in office unless he dealt with immigration and energy policy.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from a three-day visit to China, Mr Trump repeated his criticism of Sir Keir’s government.
He has called on the UK to expand drilling in the North Sea on several occasions, demanding Sir Keir “drill, baby, drill” on his Truth Social platform.
Earlier this week, he said Sir Keir was “winding the country to death” and asked whether he should give up or keep fighting: “It’s up to him, but I told him from day one he was killed by energy.”
During his state visit to Britain last year, Mr Trump also called on the government to use the military to control illegal immigration.
The comments mark another blow to the prime minister, who has suffered worsening relations with Mr Trump in recent months.
The two continue to be at odds with each other over the president’s approach to the war in the Middle East; “There is no Winston Churchill,” Mr Trump told Sir Keir earlier this year.
Sir Keir is currently facing a civil war within his party as he prepares for a leadership challenge in the coming weeks.
Speculation that Sir Keir might face a challenge has been circulating for months, but calls for his resignation have grown louder following the disastrous results of the Labor Party election.
On another dramatic day at Westminster, the No.10’s main rivals all appeared to be making their first solid moves.
Andy Burnham has been offered a path back to Parliament after a Labor MP resigned, triggering a by-election in which the Mayor of Manchester hopes to contest.
Wes Streeting, meanwhile, resigned as health secretary but refrained from launching an immediate leadership challenge, instead calling for the “best possible field of candidates” to be put first.
Former deputy chancellor Angela Rayner has been cleared by HMRC of intentional wrongdoing in her tax affairs, paving the way for a potential shift in the top job, she has announced.
Although around 89 MPs have so far publicly called for Sir Keir’s resignation, they have not united behind a single candidate to replace him.
