will today call on the Government to use Britain’s
hosting of the G7 summit this year to “secure and rebuild our
economy and make Britain lead in the world again.”
Referencing the work done by Labour Prime Ministers and on global poverty
and the financial crisis, he will call on to take a bold approach to rebuilding after the
pandemic.
Speaking at the Fabian Society conference, the Labour leader will
set out his vision for Britain as a “moral force for good in the
world” and accuse the Conservatives of overseeing “a decade of
global retreat.”
He will say that “Britain is at is strongest” when it is “the
bridge between the US and the rest of Europe.”
Ahead of the inauguration of President-elect Biden on 20 January,
Starmer says he is “incredibly optimistic about the new
relationship we can build.”
The speech marks Starmer’s first full remarks on UK foreign
policy since being elected Labour leader. He will describe
himself as “Pro-American but anti-Trump,” saying that he is
committed to a new US-UK relationship, consisting of “a strong
future together, on everything from security, climate change, aid
and trade.”
He will also critique Boris Johnson’s record on foreign affairs,
accusing the Prime Minister of “spending the last few years
cosying up to people who don’t have Britain’s interests at heart
and courting the idea that he is Britain’s Trump.”
On Britain’s future relationship with the EU, Starmer
will say:
“I want that to be a close economic relationship, rooted in our
values, based on high standards and with protections for
businesses, for working people and the environment.
“Of course, will never do that, he wants something completely
different from Brexit. And we’re already seeing that workers’
rights are at risk, the 48-hour week and the Working Time
Directive could be ripped up.”
On hosting the G7, Starmer will say:
“Britain hosts the G7 this year. That’s a huge opportunity to
shape the recovery, to bring countries together in order to
rebuild our economy and to repair our climate.
“We need to seize this chance to lead again, just as Blair and
Brown did over global poverty and the financial crisis.”
On next week’s Presidential inauguration, Starmer will
say:
“This isn’t a normal transition of power from one President to
another. The pictures on our TVs in the last few weeks make that
clear. The US is more divided than at any time I can remember.
“Amid all that, this is a moment of huge optimism, of hope
winning out over hate. And it can also be a turning point. Not
just in America but also for Britain’s relationship with the US
and for global politics.”
