Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced a grilling from MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions today, following explosive attacks and threats from US President Donald Trump this week. Starmer made it clear that Britain will not yield to Trump’s pressure over the Chagos Islands deal and the future of Greenland.
Addressing the House, Starmer said he has been extensively engaging with international allies in recent days to resolve the issues. He accused Trump of criticising the Chagos deal “for the express purpose of putting pressure” on Britain in relation to the UK’s stance on Greenland’s future.
“Britain will not yield on our principles and values about the future of Greenland under threat of tariffs,” Starmer declared. He said Trump had previously welcomed the agreement to cede the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, but has now branded it an “act of great stupidity” – a move the Prime Minister said was clearly aimed at applying pressure over Greenland.
Starmer warned that the “thug in the White House” has shown he does not listen to “grovelling or sycophancy”, and Labour MP Steve Witherspoon cautioned that Trump will “continue to harm British interests, no matter how compliant we are”.
The Prime Minister insisted that simply “hurtling at the first opportunity into a trade war” would hurt businesses and working people, saying he is working hard to avoid that outcome and will continue to act in the national interest.
Starmer also hit back at criticism from opposition parties, telling Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey that it would be “foolhardy” to think Britain should “rip up our relationship with the US” or “abandon Ukraine” amid the ongoing conflict. He accused the Green Party of proposing “reckless, irresponsible” policies.
Overall, the Prime Minister struck a firm and defiant tone, making clear that Britain will not be cowed by Trump’s threats and will continue to uphold its principles on key international issues.
