Keir Starmer says Tories ‘turned their again’ on world – and vows to satisfy ‘extra harmful age’

Keir Starmer said conflicts abroad are playing out on Britain’s streets as he vowed to “meet this more dangerous age”.

In his first speech to the annual Lord Mayor’s Banquet in London, Mr Starmer fleshed out his foreign policy agenda as the UK grapples with conflicts in the Middle East, Ukraine and Donald Trump’s looming presidency. He said global problems were playing out on Britain’s streets, saying: “Conflicts overseas undermine our security, stir up violence and extremism on our streets and drive up the cost of living.

“Meanwhile climate change hits economic growth, leaves us exposed to catastrophic flooding and both of these forces drive unsustainable levels of migration. It all manifests in a feeling among many that the system isn’t working for them. That it’s time to take back control of our lives, our borders, our livelihoods.”

The Prime Minister said the UK Government would answer these concerns both at home and abroad. He said the period of relative economic stability in the run up to the 2007 financial crisis was over and the world had “emerged now into the harsh light of day”.

Mr Starmer said he wouldn’t choose between alliances with America and Europe – and the UK would “never turn away” from the special relationship with the United States. Despite nervousness in the UK about another Trump presidency, he said: “Time and again the best hope for the world and the surest way to serve our mutual national interest has come from our two nations working together.”

The PM added: “Our security is even more closely intertwined at every level of our military, intelligence, industry, and R&D. That’s why, when President Trump graciously hosted me for dinner in Trump Tower, I told him that we will invest more deeply than ever in this transatlantic bond with our American friends in the years to come.”

Mr Starmer blasted the “shocking legacy” left by the Tories on the global stage, saying successive Conservative governments “turned their back on the world”. And he vowed to rebuild ties with Europe after years of Brexit wars.

The PM said the future of freedom in Europe is being decided now, with “near and present danger” from Russia in its bloody assault on Ukraine. He said the UK will back Ukraine “for as long as it takes” but for the first time he acknowledged the war could move towards a negotiated end.

He said: “We must continue to back Ukraine and do what it takes to support their self-defence for as long as it takes. To put Ukraine in the strongest possible position for negotiations so they can secure a just and lasting peace on their terms that guarantees their security, independence, and right to choose their own future.”

He promised to set out a clear pathway to hiking defence spending to 2.5% of GDP and to cement Britain’s position as a leading NATO ally. He said: “There is no growth without security – and no security without alliances. So to fix the foundations we must meet this more dangerous age with an age of deeper alliances. Even closer ties with the US. An unshakeable commitment to NATO. And renewed relations with our neighbours in Europe – relations which on any objective assessment are vital for our growth and security.”

Mr Starmer also vowed to work to maintain peace in Lebanon and to work towards ending conflicts in Gaza and Syria.

On China, he said Britain can’t look the other way. The PM went on: “We need to engage, to cooperate, compete and challenge on growth, on security concerns, on climate as well addressing our differences in a full and frank way on issues like Hong Kong, human rights, and sanctions on our parliamentarians. I am determined to do that and to keep talking. Because I believe we are stronger when we do.”