PA MediaSir Keir Starmer could have his first face-to-face assembly with US President Joe Biden within the White Home later.
The prime minister travelled to the US in a single day for a Nato summit, on the seventy fifth anniversary of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
Talking on the aircraft, Sir Keir advised reporters he hopes the bilateral in Washington DC shall be an opportunity to speak about Nato and the so-called UK-US particular relationship.
“That is clearly a really particular relationship we now have between the UK and the US,” he mentioned, including there was “a particular facet in relation to defence and safety for apparent causes, together with our dedication to Nato”.
He additionally advised journalists that the UK had a “cast-iron dedication” to spend 2.5% of nationwide earnings on defence however prevented placing a deadline on when that may be met.
A assessment of defence capabilities, to be ordered by the brand new authorities, will set out a roadmap in the direction of reaching the goal.
Defence Secretary John Healey mentioned the assessment would assist the federal government “become familiar with the threats we face, the capabilities we want for the long run, the state of our armed forces”.
Pressed on when the goal can be met, he mentioned the federal government needed to have “the prospect to open the books and become familiar with the horrible state of public funds”.
He mentioned the defence assessment couldn’t be finished in weeks however can be “finished correctly” and “finished at tempo”.
The Conservatives, who in the course of the election pledged to satisfy 2.5% by 2030, have mentioned failure to set out a timetable would “forged severe doubt” on the federal government’s dedication to safety.
Alongside Mr Healey, the prime minister has been joined on his journey by International Secretary David Lammy and minister for European relations Nick Thomas-Symonds.
After arriving in Washington, Sir Keir and Mr Thomas-Symonds met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
The prime minister additionally met Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Sir Keir reaffirmed his assist for Ukraine, saying: “There is a change of presidency however no change of strategy.”
Mr Zelensky thanked the UK for being “with us from the very starting of the struggle”.
Whereas the prime minister is in Washington, greater than 300 new MPs continued to be sworn in at Westminster, prepared for the state opening of parliament subsequent week, when the federal government’s programme is specified by the King’s Speech.
Throughout his flight to the US, Sir Keir was requested about whether or not he believed age restrictions the federal government plans to introduce within the Home of Lords, forcing friends to retire on the age of 80, ought to be utilized throughout the board.
The dimensions and function of the Home of Lords have come underneath elevated scrutiny lately, with 784 sitting members, and Sir Keir has beforehand suggesting another, elected second chamber based mostly on fashions elsewhere on the earth.
This is able to have an effect on Labour friends corresponding to figures like Labour’s Lord Alf Dubs, who got here to the UK as a toddler fleeing the Nazis and has lengthy campaigned on refugee rights, and is 91-years-old.
Sir Keir mentioned: “We’ve acquired 800-plus members of the Home of Lords – it’s just too huge.
“We have to scale back it, so it doesn’t mirror on how different elected representatives are chosen in different international locations, it’s to do with the dimensions of the Home of Lords.”
