Sir Keir Starmer will begin what is likely to be his final full week as Prime Minister with a trip to Paris, where he will join allies of Ukraine for a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” on Monday before participating in Bastille Day events on Tuesday.
Coalition of the Willing Meeting
The coalition of the willing was established by Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron to bring together countries willing to provide security support to Ukraine in the event of an end to hostilities. A Downing Street spokeswoman confirmed: “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.”
Starmer’s support for Ukraine has been a cornerstone of his foreign policy during his tenure. Defending the 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 Putin and his barbaric attacks on them, so this marks a moment for him to continue that in his final week in office.”
Criticism Over Overseas Travel
The outgoing Labour leader has faced criticism for the amount of time spent on diplomatic missions, with critics labeling him “never here Keir”. This week, he was in Turkey for the NATO summit on Tuesday and Wednesday. At the close of his final major international summit, he remarked: “To be able to represent our country both at home and on the international stage is a huge privilege.”
Transition of Power
Sir Keir Starmer will step aside in a few weeks after his resignation. Andy Burnham is expected to become Labour leader unopposed in a week’s time and will then become Prime Minister on July 20.
