Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer bought the information in regards to the rate of interest reduce whereas in Preston this morning, promoting his need to reform planning guidelines for constructing mini nuclear reactors in England and Wales, attempting to extend progress and reduce your power invoice. It’s moderately an ungainly promote to be giving a speech about how your newest coverage will promote financial progress when at nearly exactly the identical time, 250 miles away, the Financial institution of England is saying progress might be halved.
The issue that the prime minister’s bought is that with predictions of progress being lowered and inflation being greater, and plenty of analysts now saying that his fiscal headroom has all however disappeared, it limits his choices.
We started by asking the prime minister if his issues with progress elevate the stakes now within the particular relationship with Donald Trump, the place he can ill-afford to anger and even offend the US president, with the danger of commerce wars and tariffs looming.
Sir Keir Starmer: I feel it’s necessary to take a look at what’s occurred. The rate of interest has come down. That’s the third drop in rates of interest since July. That’s excellent news as a result of for many individuals watching this, it means they’ll have extra money of their pockets. Wages are going up greater than inflation. So once more, folks really feel higher off. And the minimal wage has gone up.
However we’re not going to show this round if we don’t additionally do the massive issues, as a result of I’m completely decided we’re going to develop the economic system. And I don’t imply a line on a graph. I imply, folks feeling higher off. That they really feel safe, they’ve bought extra money of their pocket and so they can say, my life is definitely now higher and I can do a number of the issues now that I couldn’t do earlier than.
Paul McNamara: Plenty of phrases, however I can’t assist however really feel you ignored the bit about President Trump there. What are your pink strains? Sure or no? Was President Trump unsuitable yesterday to say that the US ought to, quote, take over Gaza?
Sir Keir Starmer: Look, I imply, on the economic system, I’ve clearly mentioned with President Trump how we work collectively on commerce and the economic system for the longer term buying and selling relationship with the US, and I wish to enhance on that. Clearly, on the identical time, we resetting our relationship with the EU.
And I feel each of these are very, crucial. We proceed to have discussions with President Trump about that as a result of I’m decided to take the steps essential to drive our nation ahead. However we additionally want to alter our posture, frankly. Nuclear is just an instance of the place we’ve been on a defensive posture for too lengthy, pondering that we will’t do issues in the UK. We will, we must always and we’ll. And the query I put to everyone seems to be, why not Britain?
Paul McNamara: Was {that a} sure or a no?
Sir Keir Starmer: In relation to?
Paul McNamara: President Trump on Gaza. Was he unsuitable to say he needed to take it over?
Sir Keir Starmer: I imply, I made my place, I feel, fairly clear at prime minister’s questions yesterday, with the necessity for the ceasefire, clearly, to be seen by way of all of its phases. I feel that’s vitally necessary. But in addition, , not solely do the hostages completely want to return out, however we have to work with Palestinians to rebuild their properties, for his or her communities in Gaza.
And one of many abiding pictures for me was not simply Emily Damari, the hostage who got here out, but in addition the hundreds of Palestinians who’re strolling by way of actually rubble to attempt to discover their properties and their communities. Need to work actually arduous to permit them to rebuild these properties.
