Keir Starmer has ‘very tough hand’ to play in Trump meeting, John Kerry warns

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Keir Starmer has a “very tough hand” to play when he meets Donald Trump in the White House this week, former US secretary of state John Kerry has warned. But he’s got a very tough hand.” With the PM expected to highlight Labour’s plans to boost Britain’s defence budget from 2.3 per cent to 2.5 per cent of GDP, Mr Kerry highlighted the “tough choices” facing Sir Keir in terms of spending elsewhere. But, asked what advice he would give Sir Keir, Mr Kerry told The Telegraph: “He knows what he’s doing.” open image in gallery John Kerry warned Sir Keir Starmer has ‘a very tough hand’ ahead of his meeting with Donald Trump It came as a former British ambassador to the US said the meeting between Sir Keir and Mr Trump is “one of the most consequential meetings of a British prime minister and president that we have had since the Second World War”. Speaking to the Westminster Hour on BBC Radio 4, Sir Peter said: “Over the years there have been a number of important moments, but I think this one, particularly because of what’s going on in Ukraine, and particularly because of the implications for broader European security, and that’s leaving aside the Middle East which they’ll obviously talk about as well, I think this probably is one of the most consequential meetings of a British prime minister and president that we have had since the Second World War.” “This trip to the Oval Office I think is a more important one than usual, it’s not just about bragging rights and who got there first and who’s got a special relationship that matters most, because there is so much to talk about and because this is a very different president who’s broken a lot of the rules and has appeared to turn against a lot of allies… for Keir Starmer this is going to be a very challenging visit.” open image in gallery Sir Peter Westmacott said Sir Keir should highlight to Mr Trump ‘the realities of the person he is dealing with’ in Putin Sir Peter advised Sir Keir to show Mr Trump Europe is prepared to do more to protect its own borders and to “explain some of the realities of the sport of person he’s dealing with in Vladimir Putin”.