Starmer says ‘work has started’ with Europe on migration as he claims ‘Britain is back on world stage’ – live

Sir Keir Starmer has claimed that work has started on deepening cooperation with Europe to tackle illegal migration, as the new prime minister used the European Political Community summit to declare that Britain is “back on the world stage”.

Announcing new deals with Slovakia and Slovenia to tackle organised crime and £84m of funding for projects across Africa and the Middle East in a bid to tackle illegal migration “at source”, the PM insisted Thursday’s summit at Blenheim Palace represented the start of a “reset” in Britain’s international relationships.

The work has started on deepening the UK’s cooperation with Europe on defence, security and illegal migration, Sir Keir Starmer said, vowing to “smash the gangs, break their business model and secure our borders”.

Following the 47-member summit, Sir Keir insisted there was “a real appetite” for a Britain “which is back on the international scene, playing a leading part with maturity”, as he claimed “most of the leaders – if not all of them – are leaving here with a sense of renewed confidence in their relationship with the UK.