See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 08:39 BST, 16 June 2026 | Updated: 09:41 BST, 16 June 2026
Keir Starmer is bracing for what could be his last international summit as PM today - amid tensions with Donald Trump.The embattled PM is in the French Alps for a gathering of the powerful G7 group of nations. But at home allies of Andy Burnham are plotting an immediate bid to oust him if the Greater Manchester mayor wins the Makerfield by-election on Thursday.In a sign Sir Keir might know the event is his swansong on the world stage, he has been accompanied by wife Victoria. The premier is walking a diplomatic tightrope in Evian-les-Bains, with potential flashpoints over the UK's proposed social media ban for under-16s, defence spending shambles and immigration. The wars in Ukraine and Iran are also dominating the agenda, after Mr Trump's outline peace deal with Tehran suggested there will be tolls to use the crucial Strait of Hormuz. Sir Keir sat next to Mr Trump at dinner with fellow leaders last night, although as yet there is no news of what they discussed. Unusually the PM does not appear to have a bilateral meeting planned with the US President.Keir Starmer sat next to Donald Trump at a G7 dinner last night - but does not have a one-on-one meeting planned The US President has branded Sir Keir 'no Churchill' - and called on NATO countries to increase defence spending In a sign Sir Keir might know the event is his swansong, he has been accompanied by wife Victoria (second left)Sir Keir and Mr Trump have not met face to face since they fell out over the PM's refusal to let the US use British military bases to carry out strikes on Iran, and his decision not to send aircraft carriers to the Middle East.Relations were further strained recently after an intervention from vice president JD Vance prompted No 10 to criticise those seeking to 'interfere in our democracy'.The US president had a bilateral with Mr Macron last night and is due to hold one-on-ones with Middle East leaders at the summit. Sir Keir will try to keep the focus on Ukraine this morning, announcing more measures targeting Russia's 'shadow fleet' and the finance networks the country uses to circumvent western sanctions.British troops seized an illicit oil tanker in the Channel for the first time at the weekend.However, Mr Trump's long-standing demands for Nato countries to ramp up military spending could feature at the summit. Wrangling is continuing over the Defence Investment Plan (Dip), which sparked the resignation of John Healey last week accusing the PM and Rachel Reeves of failing to keep the country safe.Sir Keir appears to be standing by the same £13.5billion settlement - only set to boost spending from 2.6 per cent of GDP to 2.68 per cent by 2030 - in a move that threatens to further strain relations with Mr Trump.Sir Keir is expected to have bilateral meetings with world leaders including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Indian PM Narendra Modi today. The G7 leaders began their talks in France last night
