Starmer to hold talks with other global leaders this weekend to discuss response to Trump tariffs, No 10 says
Keir Starmer will be speaking to international leaders this weekend to discuss how they should respond to the Trump tariffs.
Speaking to journalists at the morning lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson would not give details of who the prime minister would be consulting, but he said the conversations were prompted by the need to work “even more closely” with allies in the light of what President Trump is doing.
The spokesperson said:
We are very much aware that the global economic landscape is shifting. It means we have a responsibility to work even more closely with other countries to maintain stability and strengthen our partnerships abroad.
And you’ll see the prime minister engaging with international leaders over the weekend on this.
The spokesperson also reminded reporters of what Starmer said yesterday, when he said the Trump tariffs were not “a short-term tactical exercise”, but the start of a “new era”.
Asked if Starmer favoured the sort of approach proposed by Jim O’Neill this morning – the non-US working together to deepen free trade, sidelining Washington (see 10.36am) – the spokesperson replied:
What the prime minister is concentrating on is his engagement with our global partners, and you will see evidence of that this weekend.
But, as we’ve said before, we will be maintaining a cool, headed and pragmatic approach, and one that is grounded in our national interest.
The spokesperson claimed government policies already in the pipeline showed that it was adapting to new circumstances. He said:
The global economic landscape is shifting and we need to shift with it. And, as you’ve already seen, through overhauling our planning system, bringing forward our industrial strategy and cutting excess red tape, we already embracing that new area and ready to tackle it.
The spokesperson also said the government would be “turbocharging” its work to deliver stability and created growth, and that Starmer would be saying more about this “in the coming days”.
Key events
Downing Street criticises Unite over its conduct in Birmingham bin strike, and urges it to negotiate settlement ‘in good faith’
Downing Street has criticised the Unite union for its conduct in the ongoing bin strike in Birmingham.
At the morning lobby briefing, the PM’s spokesperson defended the Labour-run council’s reorganisation plans that have led to the strike, and said it was time for the union to start negotiating “in good faith”.
Unite is one of the biggest unions affiliated to the Labour party, and a major donor. When Keir Starmer was asked about the ongoing bin strike at PMQs this week, he defended the council’s decision to declare the strike a major incident, but this is the first time the government has come out so strongly against the union.
Asked why the government was not intervening, the spokesperson said:
I think we should be clear about why this situation has come about.
Unite is striking against Birmingham city council’s decision to reform unfair staff structures that were a major cause of unequal pay claims and left the council liable to hundreds of millions of claims. This was a key factor cited in the council section 114 notice declaring bankruptcy.
Under the council’s current plans, no worker need lose any money. They’ve all been offered alternative employment at the same pay, for example, training to be an HGV driver or voluntary redundancy.
And the residents of Birmingham are our first and foremost priority.
As you will have seen, the local government minister Jim McMahon was in Birmingham yesterday meeting council leaders and commissioners to discuss the council’s response and make sure this has been gripped.
Following that meeting, police installed barriers at the picket line to prevent waste lorries being recklessly blocked from leaving the depots this morning to start dealing with the backlog.
Unite need to focus on negotiating in good faith, drop their opposition to changes needed to resolve long-standing pay issues and get round the table with the council to bring a strike to an end.
The spokesperson also said the strike was “causing misery and disruption to residents, which is why we are urgently pressing for an immediate agreement to be made”.
After visiting the council yesterday to discuss the strike, McMahon issued a statement saying:
Residents want this rubbish dealt with as soon as possible and I have made it clear in today’s meeting that we’re ready to support to improve conditions on the ground.
It is in the interest of all parties, and most importantly Birmingham’s residents, that this strike must be brought to a close with all parties redoubling efforts to get around the table and to find a resolution.
