Politics LIVE: Vladimir Putin issues stern warning to Starmer as PM braces for crunch meeting with Donald Trump

Starmer and Trump's crunch conference expected in just HOURS - here's where to watch it

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump's landmark press conference is just a few hours away.

The PM will arrive at White House at 5.15pm GMT on Thursday for talks with Trump, before the press conference at 7pm - similar to Emmanuel Macron's visit just days ago.

GB News will be providing live coverage and analysis throughout Starmer's crunch meeting - stay up-to-date on GBNews.com, GB News Radio and on our live stream.

​Donald Trump rejects Keir Starmer's demand before crunch talks even begin - ‘Europe should do it!’

Donald Trump has seemingly rejected Sir Keir Starmer's request before crunch talks between the 47th President and Prime Minister even begin at the White House later today.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting yesterday, Trump said: "I'm not going to make security guarantees beyond very much."

He added: "We're going to have Europe do that because... we're talking about Europe is their next door neighbour, but we're making sure everything goes well."

The President's comments come after Starmer put pressure on the White House to lead a "US backstop" against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Prime Minister said that US promises were essential to "deter Putin from coming again".

He added: “Yes, I’ve got a good relationship with him.

“I’ve met him, I’ve spoken to him on the phone and this relationship between our two countries is a special relationship with a long history, forged as we fought wars together, as we traded together. I want it to go from strength to strength.”

Reform UK urged to make ‘political point’ as Mike Amesbury swerves jail time

Reform UK "stand a very good chance of winning" in Mike Amesbury's constituency following his assault conviction, according to political commentator James Heale.

The Spectator journalist told GB News that Reform should "make a political point about the sentencing" after the MP's jail term was suspended.

Heale highlighted Reform's swift response to the incident, noting they had "a team out there leafleting that very weekend" after the assault occurred last October.

Despite Runcorn and Helsby being a Labour stronghold where the party won with "an absolute majority", Heale suggested Reform would be "quietly confident" given current polling.

READ THE FULL STORY HERE

'Step up!' Jenrick puts pressure on US over Tate brothers - 'They must face justice!'

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick has spoken out about Andrew and Tristan Tate after the controversial brothers reportedly left Romania for the United States.

Writing on social media, Jenrick said: "This was predicted and should never have been allowed to happen. The US now needs to step up.

"We have an extradition treaty with them and they need to cooperate fully. The Tate brothers stand accused of rape and human trafficking in the UK and must face our justice system."

'Sucker-punch' MP Mike Amesbury's 10-week prison sentence SUSPENDED after appeal

Ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury has had his 10-week prison sentence suspended for two-years following an appeal at Chester Crown Court today.

The Runcorn & Helsby MP was sent straight to jail following his sentencing hearing at Chester Magistrates' Court on Monday.

Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram handed out the two-and-a-half month custodial sentence after Amesbury admitted to the assault last month.

The bust-up saw 45-year-old constituent Paul Fellowes receive a number of blows to the head during an altercation in Frodsham, Cheshire, in the early hours of October 26.

After hitting Fellowes, the Runcorn & Helsby MP said: "You won't threaten the MP ever again, will you?"

Despite suspending Amesbury's sentence, Honorary Recorder of Chester Judge Steven Everett stressed the initial sentence's length was "spot on".

He also ordered the 55-year-old to carry out 200 hours unpaid work, undertake a 12-month alcohol monitoring requirement, attend an anger management course and carry out 20 days of rehabilitation work.

Starmer urged to call out Trump's 'appalling' Gaza plan - 'The world is watching!'

Sir Keir Starmer has been urged to call out Donald Trump over his "appalling" plan to revamp Gaza.

Green co-leader Carla Denyer voiced her concern ahead of the Prime Minister's crunch meeting in the White House.

Trump, who this week sparked outrage over an AI-generated video about his Gaza plan, is pledging to "clean out" the Strip to bring peace to the Middle East.

Ahead of today's meeting, Denyer said: "Now is the time for Starmer to put British values into practice on the world stage.

"The people of this country will be watching to see if he can deliver."

Labour MPs 'cover-up Keir Starmer's Chagos sell-out' but Donald Trump holds 'surrender deal' veto ahead of crunch meeting

Labour MPs have been accused of "covering up" the details of Sir Keir Starmer's Chagos deal after a motion led by Kemi Badenoch was roundly defeated in the House of Commons.

Badenoch's motion called for a choronology of negotiations between the UK and Mauritius.

It also demanded details on departmental budgets to cover the costs of the arrangement and explain the under-fire Attorney General Lord Hermer's role in negotiations.

The vote came after Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick yesterday released a seven-minute takedown video against the Chagos deal, labelling the proposed accord a "betrayal of Britain".

However, Starmer could face a challenge to his Chagos "surrender deal" from Donald Trump.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy admitted last night that the US President holds a final veto on the Indian Ocean archipelago.

Speaking ahead of Starmer's crunch meeting with the US President in the White House, Lammy told ITV: "If President Trump doesn't like the deal, the deal will not go forward and the reason for that is because we have a shared military and intelligence interest with the United States and of course they've got to be happy with the deal or there is no deal."

The Prime Minister is expected to "confront" the 47th President over his response to the war in Ukraine, with Starmer this week announcing a defence spending hike to curb Russia's influence.

However, critics of his Chagos deal claim that handing over the Indian Ocean archipelago to Beijing-backed Mauritius could provide China with a significant outpost.

40% of Channel crossing migrants come from Afghanistan, Syria and Iran

A staggering 40 per cent of Channel crossings migrants come from Afghanistan, Syria and Iran, new Home Office data has revealed.

Out of the 36,816 people who completed the perilous 21-mile journey in 2024, 5,919 came from Afghanistan.

Around 4,600 started their journey from Syria, with 4,158 almost reaching British soil after starting out in Iran.

The proportion of Indians crossing the Channel dropped from 1,214 to just 292.

Labour 'sets out path to approve' Gatwick expansion

Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander has "set out a path to approving" an expansion at Gatwick Airport.

A Whitehall source claimed Britain's second largest airport will soon grow in size after the Planning Inspectorate initially rejected the West Sussex airport’s application.

Gatwick has until April 24 to respond to the new proposals, shortly after which Alexander is expected to make a final decision.

Starmer to host 'European summit' as Zelensky set for crunch discussions on Ukraine war

Sir Keir Starmer will host an international summit for European leaders on Sunday.

The event, which will take place at Lancaster House, is expected to be attended by Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky and French President Emmanuel Macron.

The meeting comes just days after Starmer and Macron separately met with Donald Trump in the White House.

Starmer is expected to confront the US President about his stance on Ukraine, with the Prime Minister already boosting defence spending to curb the threat from Russia.

Row erupts over Starmer's 'difficult decision' to slash foreign aid - 'Not a Labour Government!' 

Sir Keir Starmer's decision to slash foreign aid has been criticised by a growing number of Labour figures.

Ex-Development Secretary Clare Short slammed the move as going against the wishes of core elements of the Labour Party.

She said: “It splashes money on defence spending and Ukraine and is not focused on bringing peace to Ukraine – and disgracefully, it has still not abolished the two-child benefit cap.

“I am afraid that, in many respects, this is simply not a Labour Government.”

The cut, which reduces Britain's foreign aid budget from 0.5 per cent to 0.3 per cent, reportedly annoyed a group of around a dozen Labour MPs.

One told The Times: “We need to be strategic about our approach. [No10] will know that sometimes doing the wrong thing is politically popular.

"If we come out in force they will lean into that conflict and relish it. There’s no point fighting this Government to try and reverse it.”

Mike Amesbury back in court to appeal 10-week sentence

Suspended Labour MP Mike Amesbury will re-appear in court today after appealing his 10-week custodial sentence.

The Runcorn & Helsby MP, who could face a recall petition after his assault conviction, will attend an appeal hearing at Chester Crown Court.

Amesbury last month pleaded guilty to punching constituent Paul Fellowes in a late-night bust-up in Frodsham, Cheshire, in the early hours of October 26.

Starmer warns Putin will attack again if Trump does not underwrite Ukrainian peace

Vladimir Putin will attack again unless America agrees to underwrite the security of Ukraine after a peace deal has been signed, Sir Keir Starmer has warned.

The Prime Minister also made clear that he was considering deploying British troops as part of a wider European force in Ukraine but it would be a decision "not taken lightly" and relied on continued involvement of US forces in the country.

The issue of the backstop offered to Ukraine will be a key part of talks between Starmer and US President Donald Trump on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters en route to Washington DC, Starmer said: "The reason I say the backstop is so important is that the security guarantee has to be sufficient to deter Putin from coming again because my concern is if there is a ceasefire without a backstop, it will simply give him the opportunity to wait and to come again because his ambition in relation to Ukraine is pretty obvious."