Prime minister tells parliamentary party that ‘being in the room’ for trade and defence talks will boost UK economy
Keir Starmer has defended his frequent trips out of the country to Labour MPs, attempting to draw a direct link with the cost of living at home, which he warned would not be solved by isolationism.
The prime minister told the meeting of the parliamentary Labour party (PLP) on Monday night that it was essential for him to be “in the room” for international negotiations on trade and defence, which would then have an impact on the domestic economy.
In a significant shift, Starmer also adopted a more upbeat tone than he has to date on how the country would see “change and renewal” under Labour this year, with 2026 seen inside government as the “year of proof”.
However, many of his own MPs and advisers would like the prime minister to spend more time in the UK focusing on domestic issues, with polling suggesting the public views Labour’s handling of cost of living poorly.
