Starmer congratulates Carney and hails Canada as ‘closest of allies’
Sir Keir Starmer said he wants to deepen the UK’s relationship with Canada as he congratulated Mark Carney on his victory in the country’s election.
The Canadian Prime Minister and former Bank of England governor’s Liberal Party won the election after a surge in its fortunes fuelled by resistance to US President Donald Trump’s economic pressure and threats to annex the country.
The UK Prime Minister said Mr Carney’s personal ties to the UK will help secure the links between the two nations as the “closest of allies”.
Mr Carney appears unlikely to win enough seats to form a majority government but the result nevertheless represents a remarkable turnaround in the centre-left Liberals’ fortunes.
At the start of the year the centre-right Conservatives had opinion poll leads in excess of 20 points but the resignation of prime minister and Liberal leader Justin Trudeau and Mr Trump’s desire to turn Canada into the 51st US state triggered a dramatic change.
Allies
In a message congratulating Mr Carney, Sir Keir said: “The UK and Canada are the closest of allies, partners and friends. With your leadership, and personal ties to the UK, I know the relationship between our two countries will continue to grow.
“Our partnership is based on shared history and values, with a shared sovereign, and I look forward to strengthening our ties following our successful meeting in Downing Street last month.
“We will work together to deepen our economic relationship to deliver security for hardworking people in the UK and Canada – which we were both elected to do.”
Canada will host this year’s summit of G7 leaders – including Mr Trump – in June.
Sir Keir said he welcomes Mr Carney’s “leadership on international issues” and “I know we will continue to work closely on defence, security, trade and investment as we look ahead to the G7 leaders’ summit in Kananaskis in June”
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A nation that stands up to Trump. The far right opponent,Poilievre, would have handed the keys to trump
We have Nige and Kemi trying their best to sell us to trump. Vote reform or Tory, you get trump, a fascist dictator calling the shots for the UK.
Be a Canada and keep the far right out.
I’m happy that Carney won, but what was it about Poilievre that would qualify him as ‘far right’? He stood up to Trump as well.
Clark is so slow to react in situations when it should be a gut reaction…
Mark Carney has the courage to stand up to Trump and call him out for the absurdity of tariffs . Unlike Starmer who’s afraid to say a word out of place to Trump. Starmer’s lack of conviction, lack of purpose and ideas and ability to lead are destroying the economy and the country. Labour must replace Starmer.
The odd thing about the response to Trump’s 51st state call is that it couldn’t work like that. Canada is a federal state of 13 provinces and territories. That couldn’t exist within the USA so those provinces and territories would be reorganised into perhaps half a dozen new US states and Canada would cease to exist.
27.2.2025 Sir Kier Starmer hand delivers invitation from King Charles III to President Trump. Strong message to Canada and the other Commonwealth realms and dependent territories where His Majesty is officially head of state (and to monarchists in Wales): Charles III is king of England.