Keir Starmer posted a message on social media congratulating Mark Kearney on the fact that he will become Canada’s next prime minister. However, he has not promised a solidarity flight to Ottawa within the next week. (See 9:28am.) He says:
Congratulations to @markjcarney, who has been appointed as Canada’s new prime minister.
I look forward to working closely with him on shared international priorities, including the G7, and further deepening UK-Canada relations.
My best wishes to my @Justintrudeau when he resigns from that role. I really hope for him in his future efforts.
Share
lib dems recommends visiting Canada to support the incoming Prime Minister Mark Kearney in his position against Trump
good morning. Keir Starmer and his government had a busy week in domestic politics. Today, the Crime and Policing Bill receives a second read. The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is scheduled to be made public tomorrow (there are related announcements regarding discounts on the Energy Bill for those living near New Pylon). But the Trump/Ukraine crisis is all shaking.
Last night, Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of England, was elected leader of the Canadian Liberal Party. In other words, he will become prime minister. While Canadian election results are less central to British politics, Carney has been chosen as a fierce opposition to President Trump’s speech on the annexation of Canada, with Lib Dem leader of London, Ed Davy, urging this week to not be blessed to continue to endure the country’s new prime minister in response to Trump’s threat to Canada. In a statement, Davy said:
It is important for both the UK and Canada security that we stand strong together. With increasing global instability, it has never been important to show a united front with federal friends and turn the screws to his allies pointlessly against Trump, whether in Canada, the UK or Europe.
In response to the trade war along the North American border, our Prime Minister must stand in solidarity against Trump’s bullying and visit Ottawa with a joint show of strength. The priorities must make it clear that Trump’s threat to the sovereignty of the federal state is unacceptable.
Liberal Democrats have a long history of calling for something that is unlikely to happen (usually Congress recalls – what they usually release in the first week of August), and Davy doesn’t expect priorities to take his advice. But he touched the nerve. Last month, during a press conference with Trump at the White House, Canadians angered Canadians, refusing to answer questions about Trump’s stance towards Canada, claiming that journalists who asked about it were trying to find “the gap between us that do not exist.” And with King Charles attending a federal day service at Westminster Abbey this afternoon, I am very curious to say what he might be considered a comment about Trump’s plan to seize the country, the head of state. As Sam Blewett writes in Politico’s London playbook briefing:
Trump’s allies will be wary of the coded message Charles sends following the warm reception he gave Voldy Mie Zelensky in Sandringham shortly after the Ukrainians were ambushed by the president and the oval office JD Vance. The king’s movement was a chord in the regime. US government officials have told the playbook that “people definitely saw it.” We turn to whether Charles will wear a maple leaf tie.
This is also the latest example of Lib Dems’ attempt to capitalize on his prioritized (easy to understand) reluctance to say critical things about Trump. Last week, Davy challenged the Commons star twice to accept that the US under Trump is an unreliable ally on issues related to Russia. Priority opposed. For PM negotiating with Washington, that was probably the right thing to do. But perhaps that’s not the right thing to think about.
This is the agenda for the day.
10:30am: Tory MP David Amess’ parents are requesting a judge-led public investigation into his murder, and his murderer will request a deal with Prevent and hold a press conference before meeting with Keir Starmer and Secretary of the Interior Keir Starmer and Yvette Cooper.
11:30am: There is a lobby briefing on Downing Street.
1pm: Voting expert and Torrey pier Robert Hayward explains the local elections in May.
2:30pm: Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson asks questions at the Commons.
Afternoon: Former Tory Cabinet Secretary Michael Gove gives evidence from the Covid investigation as part of the PPE procurement module.
3pm: Keir Starmer and other political leaders join King Charles of Westminster Abbey to mark Commonwealth Day.
After 3:30pm: Home Secretary Ybette Cooper opens discussion about the second reading of the crime and police bill.
Also, at one point today, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband are making visits related to the plan and infrastructure bill that is due to be released tomorrow.
If you would like to contact me, please post a message under the line or message me on social media. I can’t read all the messages BTL, but if I put “Andrew” in a message directed at me, I’m more likely to see it because I search for posts that contain that word.
If you want to flag something urgently, it’s best to use social media. You can contact me on Bluesky at @AndrewsParrowgdn. The Guardian has given up on posting from X’s official account, but individual Guardian journalists are there. I still have an account. I’ll send a message to me with @andrewsparrow and look at it and respond if necessary.
When readers point out mistakes, I think it’s very helpful. The error is too small to fix. And I think your question is also very interesting. I can’t promise to reply to all of them, but I try to reply to as many things as I can on BTL or sometimes blogging.
Share
Updated to 05.50 EDT
