Donald Trump confirms US-UK trade deal to come ‘very quickly’ in major boost to Brexit Britain

Analysis: Starmer should be DELIGHTED with 'big wins' in Trump conference

Sir Keir Starmer should be "delighted" with this evening's press conference in Washington DC, GB News' Deputy Political Editor Tom Harwood writes.

"Trump heaped praise on him, the UK, and rowed back from his criticism of Zelensky.

"He committed to a state visit to Britain, and to negotiate a trade deal which would exempt the UK from tariffs.

"While Europe is about to be slammed with American tariffs, it really does look like Britain will avoid them. Were we in a customs union with the EU, we would be hit too."

"Big wins," he adds.

Starmer clashes with reporters over Canada - but Trump shuts down PM

Keir Starmer accused reporters of trying to "find a divide" between him and Donald Trump through questions over the President's pledge to annex Canada.

"You're trying trying to find a divide between us that doesn't exist," the Prime Minister said - but Trump then slapped down Starmer with a "that's enough" before he could finish speaking.

Ukraine ceasefire 'will come fairly soon or not at all', Trump promises

A ceasefire in Ukraine will "come fairly soon or not at all", Donald Trump has promised in tonight's joint press conference with Sir Keir Starmer.

Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Washington DC for crucial talks tomorrow - but a later meeting between the US and Russia could prove even more consequential for peace.

Starmer said he and Trump discussed a Ukraine peace deal which would be tough and fair - and that Britain was prepared to put boots on the ground and planes in the air to support it.

Earlier: Trump 'BACKS Chagos surrender' in major victory for Starmer and Lammy

Donald Trump has appeared to back Britain's handover of the Chagos Islands in a major victory for Sir Keir Starmer's Labour.

Despite intense speculation that the President would move to veto the controversial deal, Trump looked to have U-turned as he spoke to the media next to Starmer in the Oval Office.

He told reporters the deal will "work out very well", adding: "We'll be inclined to go along with your country. It doesn't sound bad!"

But he did offer a back-door for a thumbs down, adding: "It's a little bit early... We have to be given the details."

Trump's own Secretary of State Marco Rubio has warned the surrender poses a serious threat to US security interests in the Indian Ocean - while back in the UK, Chagos hardliners Robert Jenrick and Rupert Lowe have already poured scorn on the President's remarks.

"I hope that Donald Trump reconsiders his support for it. On this, he is wrong," Lowe said.

"America might think it is their interest. But it is not ours," Jenrick added.

He continued: "There is no good legal reason to give up the Chagos Islands and it would be a strategic disaster for Britain."

Jonathan Powell, Britain's Special Envoy for negotiations between the UK and Mauritius, is also in the White House tonight - and after the sit-down, will attend top-level UK-US talks.

Donald Trump lavishing Starmer with praise as conference kicks off

Donald Trump is lavishing Sir Keir Starmer with praise as the pair's press conference gets underway.

The President has described Starmer as the "Prime Minister of a very special place" - and called him a "tough negotiator" in "tremendously productive" talks.

More to follow...

Trump and Starmer to head up joint conference in just MINUTES

Donald Trump and Sir Keir Starmer will be fielding questions from the media at a joint press conference in just a few minutes' time.

GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope is in the audience - you can follow this blog or watch GB News live to stay up-to-date with the briefing as it happens.

Farage goes for gold as Reform UK picks Olympic champion boxer Luke Campbell for Hull mayoral election 

Reform UK has picked Olympic gold medal-winning boxer Luke Campbell to run for Hull & East Yorkshire Mayor.

"Local hero" Campbell, 37, had been teased as a "knockout candidate" ahead of his unveiling.

In a video on Reform's social media platform, he said: "Hull's really good when they get behind their own and cheer for their own... I want to represent the people in the right way.

"I want to do it for my family, for the community, for my country - and fight for the people of this city."

Reform UK to announce 'knockout candidate' to stand for Mayor of Hull & East Yorkshire - follow live

Reform UK is set to announce a "knockout candidate" to contest the Hull & East Yorkshire mayoral election this evening.

Leader Nigel Farage is speaking on stage at the moment - and is tearing into "two-tier justice", Mike Amesbury's prison sentence, and this morning's immigration figures.

We'll bring you live updates as they come in...

Starmer and Vance butt heads over free speech as VP warns of 'infringements'

Sir Keir Starmer and Vice President JD Vance have butted heads over freedom of speech in the White House this evening.

Following up on a hard-hitting address at the Munich Security Conference last week, Vance warned that there have been "infringements on free speech" on Britain.

But Starmer slapped him down, telling Vance: "We have had free speech for a very long time in the UK. I'm very proud of that."

Before the talks: Vladimir Putin issues stern warning to West ahead of Starmer-Trump showdown

Vladimir Putin has warned "Western elites" not to undercut US-Russia talks on Ukraine just hours before a crunch meeting between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump.

With Starmer under pressure to shore up American support for a security "backstop" in Ukraine after a potential end to the war, the Russian President has weighed in with a veiled threat.

The US and Russia have already held talks on peace in Ukraine - and Putin has sowed the seeds of doubt over Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron's trips to Washington DC.

"The first contacts with the new US administration give some hope," the Russian premier said. "There is a mutual desire to work on restoring relations."

But he warned that "some Western elites will try to undermine our dialogue".

The leaders' first face-to-face meeting since Trump's return to power has been billed as a major test for Starmer's diplomacy.

The PM arrived at White House just after 5.35pm GMT on Thursday for talks with Trump, with a press conference expected at 7pm - similar to Macron's visit just days ago.

Meanwhile Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to DC on Friday to sign a landmark minerals deal - which could lay the groundwork for an end to Russia's three-year war.

Chagos hardliners Rupert Lowe and Robert Jenrick left reeling after Trump backs deal

Reform UK's Rupert Lowe and Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick have urged Donald Trump to reconsider his support for Britain giving away the Chagos Islands.

Writing on social media after Trump said he was "inclined to go along with" the deal, Jenrick said: "Surrendering British territory remains an appalling betrayal of the British people. America might think it is their interest. But it is not ours.

"There is no good legal reason to give up the Chagos Islands and it would be a strategic disaster for Britain."

While Lowe said just one minute later: "The Chagos Islands deal is disgustingly rotten to the core. It does NOT serve the British taxpayer. It's about human rights lawyers abusing their power to indulge their fantasies. It's a betrayal.

"I hope that Donald Trump reconsiders his support for it. On this, he is wrong."

Trump heaps praise on Russia as President pushes for peace

Donald Trump has said that any European peacekeeping force will only be deployed to Ukraine after a deal with Russia.

"We have to make a deal first... Right now, we don't have a deal. I think we're very well advanced. I think Russia has been acting very well," the President said.

"I think we're very well advanced on the deal, but we have not made a deal yet.

"I don't like to talk about peacekeeping until we have a deal."

Trump BACKS Chagos surrender - and Brexit - as President swipes at EU

Donald Trump has appeared to back Labour's Chagos Islands giveaway in the Oval Office today.

He told reporters the deal will "work out very well", adding: "We'll be inclined to go along with your country. It doesn't sound bad!"

He also took a tough tariff swipe against the EU - and warned Britain was not out of the woods on import/export duties just yet.

"The EU was very tough on us from the standpoint of trade," Trump said, and added that UK-US relations are in a "warm spot".

"We're talking about a very different place. A place where I have investments," the President said.

He also said Brexit was the "right thing at the right time" and will prove to be so "over the centuries".

PICTURED: Donald Trump's royal invitation from the King

Donald Trump has been pictured holding his invitation for a state visit from King Charles III.

Not much can be made out on the letter - but the King's handwriting is clearly visible, and bookends the text with the words "Dear Mr President" and "Yours most sincerely, Charles R".

Trump handed official invitation for second state visit as PM and President shake hands in Oval Office

Sir Keir Starmer has handed a letter to Donald Trump from King Charles III, officially inviting the President to Britain for an unprecedented second state visit.

Trump immediately accepted the invitation.

Further pictures from the Oval Office show the two leaders shaking hands for an informal chat with reporters.

PICTURED: Starmer and Trump meet at the White House

Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump have been pictured together after meeting at the White House.

Some 20 minutes later than expected, the Prime Minister has finally arrived at the President's residence - and the duo were seen briefly posing and smiling before heading inside.

The two leaders will address the media in just over an hour's time.

Team Trump 'pleased' with Britain's defence spending boost - but President wants FIVE per cent

Ahead of Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump's meeting, the mood in Washington appears positive.

A senior member of Trump's team has echoed US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in praising Britain's recent defence spending hike - telling The Telegraph the President was "very pleased" with Starmer's pledge.

But they warned that Trump "does continue to urge our Nato allies to increase their spending even further towards five per cent to address years of underfunding" - a demand which had been hinted at before his return to the White House.

Meanwhile, a Cabinet minister has told the newspaper that Ukraine will be the "number one item" on the agenda for Starmer and Trump during their White House talks.

PM just minutes away from White House appearance - follow live

Sir Keir Starmer is set to enter the White House as Prime Minister for the very first time in just a few minutes.

GB News' Political Editor Christopher Hope is in the building - we'll bring you all the top stories as they happen.

Starmer to ask Donald Trump for US airpower to shore up Ukraine against Putin

Sir Keir Starmer is set to request a range of US air support from Donald Trump at his meeting today, The Sun reports.

The Prime Minister is set to ask for spy planes, satellite surveillance, and missiles and bombers if Vladimir Putin's Russia tries to "come again" to Ukraine after any kind of ceasefire deal is reached.

If agreed, the support from the skies will bolster a potential rollout of European peacekeepers on the ground in Ukraine.

Britain and France have so far remained clear that they do not expect any American boots on the ground - and ahead of Starmer and Trump's meeting, the PM told reporters "we are still in discussions" as to what a European peacekeeping force would look like - as well as "how it layers up [and] who the contributors would be."

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."