Keir Starmer has been told rolling out the red carpet to Donald Trump with a state visit he “craves” must come with a key condition.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said the incoming US President must first “deliver” on support for war-torn Ukraine to defeat Putin’s invasion.
The demand comes just days before the erratic president-elect returns to the White House and concerns over the US’s ongoing support for Kyiv.
In his first major speech of 2025 the Lib Dem leader said: “We have something Trump desperately wants: a state visit. The pageantry at Buckingham Palace.
“A banquet with the King. We all know he craves it. So I say we give it to him. But only if he delivers what we need first for Britain and Europe’s defence and security.”
He added: “President Trump must sit down with President Zelenskyy and other European leaders – in a summit convened by the UK.
“To agree how we collectively use the hundreds of billions of dollars, pounds and Euros of frozen Russian assets to pay for the weapons Ukraine needs to win the war and beat Putin.
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“And if Trump delivers on that deal, pushing the necessary measures through Congress. Then, and only then, do we roll out the red carpet for a state visit.”
Sir Ed, who labelled Mr Trump the first “convicted criminal” to take the presidential oath, said his incoming administration was a “threat to peace and security” across the world.
He said: “For the next four years, the UK cannot depend on the President of the United States to be a reliable partner on security, defence or the economy.”
But he added Keir Starmer can deal with Mr Trump from a position of strength if the Labour government renews ties with the EU.
Sir Ed said this must include a new UK-EU customs union to come into force by 2030 at the latest ” to turbocharge our economy in the medium and long term”.
But Mr Starmer has repeatedly ruled out a return to the bloc’s single market or the customs union in his “reset” with the EU after years of strained relations.
Sir Ed added: “Ripping up the expensive red tape that is holding back British firms – especially small businesses – from selling into Europe, costing our economy billions in lost exports. This isn’t just a plan to deal with Trump, it’s a growth plan for our country – and how badly we need one of those.”