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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Politics
David Hughes

Starmer to start final week in office with trip to Paris

Sir Keir will visit Paris for Bastille Day celebrations as well as seeking more support for Ukraine (PA) - (PA Wire)

Sir Keir Starmer will begin what is likely to be his final full week in No 10 with a trip to Paris.

The Prime Minister will join allies of Ukraine for a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” on Monday before joining Bastille Day events on Tuesday.

The outgoing Labour leader has been criticised in office for the amount of time he has spent on diplomatic missions overseas, with critics labelling him “never here Keir”.

French president Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer have led efforts to support Ukraine (Isabel Infantes/PA) (PA Wire)
French president Emmanuel Macron and Sir Keir Starmer have led efforts to support Ukraine (Isabel Infantes/PA) (PA Wire)

A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister will travel to Paris on Monday for a meeting of the coalition of the willing to discuss continued support for Ukraine’s defence.

“On Tuesday, he will join Bastille Day commemorative events with other leaders.”

The coalition of the willing is the initiative established by Sir Keir and French president Emmanuel Macron to bring together countries willing to provide security support to Ukraine if there is an end to the hostilities.

Sir Keir’s support for Volodymyr Zelensky’s country has been one of the main elements of his foreign policy during his time in office.

Defending his trip, a No 10 spokeswoman told reporters: “One of the defining things about this prime minister’s time in office has been the work he has done to shore up Ukraine and its defences in the face of (Vladimir) Putin and his barbaric attacks on them, so this marks a moment for him to continue that in his final week in office.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will step aside in a few weeks after his resignation (Alastair Grant/PA) (PA Wire)
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will step aside in a few weeks after his resignation (Alastair Grant/PA) (PA Wire)

Andy Burnham is expected to become Labour leader unopposed in a week’s time and will then become prime minister on July 20.

Sir Keir was in Turkey for the Nato summit on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

At the close of his final major international summit he said: “To be able to represent our country both at home and on the international stage is a huge privilege.”

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