New Prime Minster Sir Keir Starmer declared Britain to be “back on the world stage” during his conference at Blenheim Palace.
Taking to the stage after a slight delay, Sir Keir spoke after a day of talks at the European Political Community and following the arrival of King Charles III.
He answered questions on Ukraine, illegal migration and border control as well as the presidential running between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in the USA.
READ MORE: King Charles speaks with Sir Keir Starmer and Zelensky at Blenheim Palace
The Prime Minister also pledged £84m in foreign aid to help stop irregular migration "at source" during his speech at the palace.
After answering questions from the media, he described the day at the former home of Winston Churchill in Woodstock as being “very successful”.
“It has been very good from our point of view, it has been a very successful session today of the European Political Community”, the Prime Minister said.
“I am very pleased we have been able to host it and to be able to host it here, in this splendid place.
“With the weather, which we can’t take credit for, it has added to the real sense that Britain is back on the world stage.
“I am really pleased that most of the leaders, if not all of them, are leaving here with a sense of a new renewed confidence with their relationship with the UK with a real understanding of what we mean by a reset.”
(Image: Stefan Rousseau)
During the conference, Sir Keir accused the previous government of a “dereliction of duty” on migration.
He said: “We’ve got record numbers this year. We can’t switch that in 24 hours, one week. Two weeks ago today we were still knocking on doors asking people to vote for us.”
He added: “I’m pleased that we are making up ground, we will continue to do it at pace, but we have been left in a really difficult position yet again by this government which has, it’s been a dereliction of duty because border control is about our national security.
“And rather than address it with a serious answer, they addressed it with a gimmick. The gimmick didn’t work, and we’re left with a very serious situation to try and turn around.”
Asked about the risk to support for Ukraine should Mr Trump and his running mate, JD Vance, win in November, the Prime Minister said: “Those elections will take place, it will be for the American people to decide who they want to elect into office and we will work with whoever is elected into office, as you would expect.
“That is what I mean about maturity and leadership, not just within Europe but more widely and, of course, with the US.
“And the special relationship that is there between the US and the UK was forged in the most difficult of circumstances, endured a very long time, and we are committed to it.
“I’ve expressed my commitment to President Biden and I spoke to President Trump on Sunday evening after the assassination attempt, where again the special relationship featured in our discussion.”
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