Keir Starmer in Montreal – Background briefing

Today [Saturday 16 September], Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, and David Lammy, Shadow Foreign Secretary, met with Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, as the Labour politicians undertook a series of engagements and events with political leaders from around the world at the Global Progress Action Summit in Montreal, Canada.

Meeting with both Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau and Norwegian Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, Starmer emphasised his Party’s commitment to global cooperation as “a vital vehicle in delivering the security that working people need in such uncertain times.”

In an in conversation event with the Norwegian Prime Minister, Starmer said: 

“I believe we are on a wave of progressive governments in power in all parts of the world, and it will fall to us to answer the four big security threats the world faces.

“The challenges are big, so our ambition needs to match that. Decades of conservatism and unfettered globalisation have left us with stagnation and vulnerabilities.  

“We may soon have a golden opportunity to change this if we grasp the issues. As progressive parties know if we are to deliver security, we need action at home and collaboration abroad.”

Starmer added:

“Global cooperation isn’t a nice to have - it’s not a photo opp, a moral crusade, nor is it a left wing approach to politics. It’s practical leadership, smart economics, putting country before Party, and how we create the change people are rightly demanding.”

The Labour leader has been in Montreal outlining “the anchors” of his approach to foreign policy, in his first major step on the world stage. Against a backdrop of increasing risks to British security from chaos at UK borders, Chinese infiltration of parliament and the cost of living crisis, Starmer has been pressing his diagnosis of the challenge Britain faces – “an axis of instability” - economic security,  climate and energy, the security of our borders and threats to democracy. 

Separately to the bilaterals, Starmer met with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former Governor to the Bank of England, Mark Carney, at the opening of the summit on Friday night [15th September]. After remarks to the room, Trudeau immediately spoke with Starmer to discuss the importance of Britain and Canada working together.  

Carney also met the two politicians shortly afterwards to join the discussion.

Keir Starmer also met with former Swedish Prime Minister, Magdalena Andersson in a private meeting on Friday. The two are known to be in regular contact, usefully discussing mutual experiences of seeking government from opposition against Conservative governments. Their discussions included the importance of providing tangible answers to the cost of living crisis; the opportunities in the move to clean energy; and understanding the public’s concerns about immigration and secure borders. 

The Labour leader has been in demand during the summit in Montreal, with global recognition about his Party’s prospects as the UK heads into a general election year. He has made his commitment to global cooperation clear, including emphasising that a Labour government will keep Britain in the ECHR.

Speaking to the FT on the trip,  Starmer called on Rishi Sunak to “stand up to the wreckers in his own party and finally put British security above the narrow interests of the Tory Party.”

The Labour leader said: “Britain’s security, its global alliances and its leadership and influence on the world stage have been the hallmarks of our country’s proudest moments. That cannot be put at risk because a crumbling Tory Party is yet again trying to whip up divisions in its desperation to cling to power.”

He added:

“The West faces an ‘axis of instability’ from climate change, people smuggling gangs, terrorism and assaults on democracy. If we are to succeed in our generational challenge of taking them on, we need a rewiring of global thinking and new partnerships.

“But while our friends and allies are working together to take on Chinese influence and invest in the jobs and technologies of the future, Britain has been left on the sidelines. After 13 years of narrowing our influence and our strength, the smouldering cinders of the bridges the Tories have burnt now stand between us and the alliances and agreements that will determine the future.

“The Conservative’s party’s myopia is not just absurd but deeply damaging to Britain’s interests. Their drum beat of threats to pull out of the ECHR is nothing more than a desperate attempt by a failing government to whip up division in order to cling to power, with the consequences for Britain’s security and prosperity an afterthought.

“Our ability to build global alliances, our leadership and our influence on the world stage have been the hallmarks of our country’s proudest moments. The Tories have turned their back on this. Instead, they want to undermine the Good Friday Agreement and leave us floundering in the same grubby waters as Russia and Belarus. Rishi Sunak must now stand up to the wreckers in his own party and - for once - put British security above the narrow interests of the Tory Party.

“Britain needs to reach key long-term agreements on energy, trade, migration, and cracking down on criminal gangs to secure our borders. I’ve seen the difference earned faith and goodwill makes when sat around a table with international partners. I delivered justice as Director of Public Prosecutions operating with those values: as Prime Minister, I’ll do it to tackle the big challenges of our age. With Labour, Britain will be a a proud partner on the global stage, for the security of people at home.”