Starmer on Greenland: No to Trump Pressure | PMQs

LONDON, November 22, 2023 – The UK’s Prime Minister faces a potentially thorny session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today, with global tensions and domestic pressures colliding on the political agenda. The looming specter of Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House, and his surprisingly specific grievances with British foreign policy, are set to dominate the discussion.

Global Disputes and Domestic Concerns Converge at PMQs

the Prime Minister will navigate questions on international relations and pressing issues like inflation and a controversial new Chinese embassy.

• International affairs,particularly relations with the U.S., are expected to be central to today’s PMQs.
• Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is poised to challenge the Prime Minister on several fronts, including the Chagos Islands dispute.
• Domestic issues like inflation and the new Chinese embassy are also likely to feature prominently in the questioning.
• Badenoch has demonstrated a sharper focus in recent PMQs sessions, often centering her questions around a single, dominant theme.

What’s the latest on the UK’s relationship with the U.S. as we head into a potential Trump presidency? The Prime Minister is bracing for questions about navigating a possible second term for Donald Trump, who has already publicly criticized British policy decisions.

Badenoch Prepares a Multifaceted Challenge

As is customary, Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, will have six opportunities to question the Prime Minister. Observers note Badenoch has become increasingly effective in recent months, typically honing in on a single, overarching theme during her interrogations. And with a particularly busy news cycle, she certainly isn’t lacking in potential topics.

One key issue is Trump’s sharp rebuke of the UK’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. The former U.S. President labeled the deal “an act of GREAT STUPIDITY,” a sentiment that has resonated with the Conservative party, which has consistently opposed the handover under Badenoch’s leadership.

The Chagos Islands dispute centers around the UK’s control of the archipelago, which the U.S. uses as a military base. Mauritius claims sovereignty over the islands, and the UK has agreed to eventually return them, a move fiercely opposed by Washington.

Though, Badenoch may also pivot to domestic concerns. The persistent rise in inflation and the recent approval of a new Chinese embassy in London – a decision she has publicly criticized – could also become focal points during PMQs.

The session promises to be a lively one, testing the prime Minister’s ability to address both international headwinds and domestic anxieties.