Trump weighs in on Starmer as Prime Minister faces Labour rebellion

Donald Trump has once again taken aim at Sir Keir Starmer

Donald Trump has taken a swipe at Sir Keir Starmer as he fights to keep control of a fracturing Labour Party.

Four ministers, including Safeguarding Minister Jess Philips, have resigned while more than 80 MPs have called on him to quit. However, more than 100 backbenchers have backed Starmer to continue as leader.

President Trump, already a persistent critic of Downing Street’s stance on the conflict with Iran, used a brief appearance outside the White House to issue his latest rebuke.

Preparing to depart for a high‐stakes state visit to Beijing, Mr Trump was asked whether he had any guidance for the British leader, reports the Express.

“My advice has always been: open up,” he said, urging the UK to exploit its North Sea reserves and accusing the Government of squandering “one of the great oil finds anywhere in the world”. He coupled the demand with a call for a far tougher line on immigration, warning that Europe was being “very, very hurt” by current levels.

When pressed on whether Sir Keir ought to step down, Mr Trump answered: “That’s up to him.”

The US President proceeded with his tirade concerning what he characterised as unexploited energy reserves from North Sea oil deposits, declaring: “You’re getting killed on windmilling your country to death.”

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Just days earlier, Starmer acknowledged there exists increased “tension” between Trump and Europe. The Prime Minister issued a warning about strained relationships during last week’s European Political Community summit in Armenia, which was largely focused on the conflicts in Ukraine and Iran.

Addressing the summit, Sir Keir stated: “We cannot deny that some of the alliances that we have come to rely on are not in the place we would want them to be.”

Before setting off for his journey to China, Trump also informed reporters at the White House that he would have a “long talk” with Xi Jinping about the Iran war but added “we have Iran very much under control” so he wouldn’t require the Chinese President’s assistance. The visit, set for May 13-15, will represent the first journey to China by a sitting US president in nearly a decade.