Sir Keir Starmer‘s 16 overseas trips in five months have sparked fears the prime minister is distracted from domestic issues in the UK, a report claims.
Since entering Downing Street, Sir Keir has notched up the air miles, with trips to the United States, Germany, France, Ireland, Italy, Belgium, Samoa, Hungary, Azerbaijan and Brazil.
A government source said the PM has “rather overdone it” in relation to all the foreign visits he has made since July 5.
The source told the i newspaper there were plenty of overseas trips Sir Keir could have sent Foreign Secretary David Lammy or Defence Secretary John Healey to instead, adding: “He wasn’t needed at every one he went to.”
Sir Keir’s allies argue fulfilling the Labour Government’s goals for economic growth, border security, the climate and green investment rely on Britain’s standing in the world.
Another government source told the same publication there is a “certain element” of a new prime minister “having to get out there”.
In July, Sir Keir’s jet-setting included the NATO summit in Washington DC, watching England at the Euro 2024 final in Berlin, attending the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics and a second visit to the German capital to announce defence pact talks.
There was one trip abroad in August, to Paris again and four in September, to Dublin, Washington DC, Rome and New York for the UN General Assembly.
Sir Keir met European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels in October as part of his UK-EU relations “reset” before trips to Berlin and Samoa for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting.
This month saw visits to Hungary, Paris for Armistice Day commemorations, Azerbaijan for the COP29 climate change conference and Rio de Janeiro for the G20 summit.
The frequency of Sir Keir’s foreign trips could risk his being seen by the public as less interested in Britain’s domestic agenda and improving the lives of ordinary Brits.
Downing Street has been approached for comment.
Earlier this month, Sir Keir defended his globe-trotting, telling reports what matters more is what he is doing rather than where he is.
He said: “I think the best way to build relations that are based on trust and respect is face to face. I’m a big believer in face to face engagement.”
Questions about the PM’s travel have dogged his premiership, with claims he prefers to be among the global elite rather than amid the cut and thrust of Westminster.
He told News Agents podcast co-host Emily Maitlis before the election that he preferred Davos to the constraints of Westminster amid a charm offensive in Davos to drum up support for Labour from international bankers and industrialists.
Chris Hopkins, Director of market research consultancy, Savanta, told the i Starmer must now prove his “global grandstanding” has brought some benefit to the issues the public cares most about.
