Starmer news live: Trump signals ‘great’ UK-US trade deal as UK PM fails to secure key concessions over Ukraine – UK Times

Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK guards free speech “preciously” and denied that the Online Safety Act was a form of censorship.

The Prime Minister made the comments after an earlier exchange with Vice President JD Vance on Thursday, in which he reaffirmed the UK’s long history of freedom of expression.

Speaking to Fox News, Sir Keir said: “We actually had some exchanges today about things like freedom of speech. We got on very well, by the way.

“We had a really good discussion over lunch and I made clear we’ve had freedom of speech in the United Kingdom for a very very long time and we guard it preciously.”

Asked if the UK’s Online Safety Act meant it was trying to censor speech, Sir Keir responded: “No we don’t believe in censoring speech, but of course we do need to deal with terrorism. We need to deal with paedophiles and issues like that.

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Meeting between the Labour prime minister and US president touched on Ukraine, tariffs, trade deals, the Chagos Islands, Nato and a historic state visit invitation from King Charles:

The British prime minister is not known for his charm, but he brought a secret weapon with him to disarm Trump, writes Richard Hall:

From the power of the handshakes, to their tender gestures during the televised Oval Office chat, and the way each stood apart during the later White House press conference, the pair could not be more “mismatched”, according to body language expert Caroline Goyder.

“Trump is the silverback, totally relaxed, totally grounded, you know, on his home turf. And the difference, it couldn’t be starker,” Ms Goyder told ITV on Thursday night after viewing footage of the US and UK leaders as they prepared to discuss advances in security and trade.

“Whatever you think about Donald Trump, he is Mr Charisma with Mr Logic… Mr Legal. And so it’s amazing, It’s like Mars and Venus.”

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The choice to cut foreign aid is egregious on so many levels, writes MP Andrew Mitchell:

Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he will meet leaders of 18 countries on Sunday to discuss the Ukraine war and stressed the importance of European countries doing more “in the defence and security of Europe”.

Asked whether he had been in discussions with other European countries about the peacekeeping deal and whether any Commonwealth countries may join, Sir Keir said: “Yes, I’ve spoken to a number of countries, particularly in the last few weeks.

“We had a meeting in Paris last week. I’ve got a meeting on Sunday with 18 countries to further our discussions.

“Obviously we’ve been talking quite intensely to our French colleagues and to Nato, but to other countries as well, because, as I say, I think it’s important for European countries including the United Kingdom to step up and do more in the defence and security of Europe and our continent and the United Kingdom, and we will do so.”

One of the key takeaways from the meeting between Keir Starmer and Donald Trump was the potential for a trade agreement to be struck between both nations.

Trade has been a cause of major anxiety for the UK coming into the meeting after Trump announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, and the EU.

Trump praised Starmer’s negotiating skills and hinted both nations could avoid a deal without tariffs.

Here’s what Sir Keir had to tell Fox News: “Well, I think that the trading relationship between the US and UK is very good trading relationship.

“We’ve got billions invested in each other’s economies, and it’s fair and it’s balanced. There’s a surplus actually in favor of the US, so we’re in a different position to perhaps others.

“And what we’ve agreed today is to move forward to a new economic deal, and our teams are now starting to work on that, particularly on things like tech and AI.”