Keir Starmer due to meet Donald Trump for first time in bid to ‘establish relationship’ with former President

Starmer decided to go ahead with a meeting with Trump despite not being able to hold a corresponding discussion with Kamala Harris, Trump’s Democratic opponent in November’s presidential election.

Speaking ahead of the meeting on Thursday evening, Starmer told reporters including GB News: “It’ll be really to establish a relationship between the two of us.

“I'm a great believer in personal relations on the international stage.

“I think it really matters that you know who your counterpart is in any given country, and know them you know personally, get to know them face to face.

“So it's really along those lines. I won't go into what we'll actually discuss, obviously, but that's the purpose of it, as you'd expect, ahead of the election.

“I should probably add that our embassy has got good relations with both camps and has had for a long time.

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“So it's not the sort of start of something, it's the continuation of those good relations that have been there with both camps, and that's a really good thing that the embassy has been doing.”

Asked if a Trump win In November’s election would leave the UK more exposed and where he would stand up to Trump as President, Starmer said: “The first thing I think is important to say in relation to this is we've obviously had a special relationship with the US for a long time, forged in really difficult circumstances.

“That always sits above whoever holds the particular office, either in the US or the UK. And it is really important.

“I think it's probably as strong now as it's ever been, in relation to the Middle East and Ukraine. And you've seen how closely I've been working with the US in relation to both of those issues.

“The US people will decide who they want as their President, and we will work with whoever is President, as you would expect. I’m not going to speculate on what any particular issues may be the other side of the election.”

No10 declined to say whether Harris, who was reportedly in Washington on Thursday, was aware of the Trump meeting. Starmer and Harris have also never met.

The news came as Starmer committed the UK to increasing spending on international development to 0.7 per cent of gross domestic product, from 0.5 per cent of GDP.

He told the UN general assembly: “Under my leadership, the UK will lead again. Tackling climate change, at home and internationally and restoring our commitment to international development.”

He said the UK “will also continue to be a leading contributor to development, committee to returning to 0.7 per cent when fiscal circumstances allow”.

Starmer also said the UK will “become the first major economy to transition to clean power by 2030. And I’m pleased to tell you that, yes We will meet our Net Zero target backed up with an ambitious NDC at COP29 consistent with limiting warming to 1.5 degrees and we’ll support others to do the same.”