Prime Minister Keir Starmer has delivered a robust defence of his government's internationalist stance, using a major speech to criticise the 'wild promises' made during the Brexit campaign and to warn against a 'corrosive, inward-looking attitude' in British politics.
A Vision of Outward-Looking Patriotism
Speaking at the Lord Mayor's Banquet at London's Guildhall on Monday evening, the Labour leader framed strong international relations as a form of modern patriotism. He argued that the UK's standing in the world had been restored since his party took office, citing world-first trade deals, migration treaties, and billions in commercial contracts secured by his administration.
'In these times, we deliver for Britain by looking outward with renewed purpose and pride. Not by shrinking back,' Starmer stated. 'In these times, internationalism is patriotism.' He took aim at political opponents promoting what he called a 'declinist vision of a lesser Britain', in a clear reference to the Conservative and Reform parties' stance on the European Convention on Human Rights and the Green Party's position on NATO.
Confronting the Brexit Legacy and China Challenge
The Prime Minister offered a nuanced assessment of Brexit, stating that while the 2016 referendum was a 'fair, democratic expression', its execution was deeply flawed. 'How it was sold and delivered was simply wrong. Wild promises were made to the British people and not fulfilled. We are still dealing with the consequences today,' he told the audience in the City of London.
On the subject of China, Starmer outlined a policy of 'sober realism'. He acknowledged the nation's immense economic scale and the national security threats it poses, criticising the UK's previous vacillation between a 'golden age' and an 'Ice Age' in relations. 'The absence of engagement with the world’s second biggest economy is staggering and a dereliction of duty,' he declared, pledging to give British businesses clarity and support to pursue opportunities where no significant risk exists.
Restoring Britain's Global Footprint
In his annual foreign policy address, the PM positioned his government as the antidote to years of instability, arguing that a chaotic world demands engagement, not retreat. He highlighted the Labour government's diplomatic and trade achievements since the election, including major new trade deals with the EU, India, and the United States.
Starmer concluded that a failure to engage with fundamental global challenges represented a 'fatal misreading of the moment'. His speech served as both a blueprint for his foreign policy and a sharp political attack on rivals he accuses of offering grievance over hope in Britain's relationship with the world.
