Starmer calls for ‘calm discussion’ on Greenland and plays down chance of retaliatory tariffs on US – UK politics live

From 2h agoStarmer plays down prospect of imposing retaliatory tariffs on USStarmer is now taking questions.Q: Would you consider responding with tariffs?Starmer says he does not want a trade war. He says tariffs would not be in anyone’s interests. We must find a pragmatic, sensible, sustained way through this, that avoids some of the consequences that will be very serious for our country. Key events27m agoStarmer's press conference - snap verdict1h agoStarmer says he wants to restrict time under-5s spend on screens, as he confirms teen social media ban being considered1h agoStarmer says he does not think Trump seriously considering military action against Greenland1h agoStarmer says he clarified nature of European troop deployment to Greenland when he spoke to Trump2h agoStarmer says he does not accept UK has to choose between US and Europe2h agoStarmer avoids question about whether Greenland row should lead to cancellation of King Charles's visit to US2h agoStarmer plays down prospect of imposing retaliatory tariffs on US2h agoStarmer criticises politicians who have responded to Greenland crisis with 'grandstanding'2h agoStarmer restates his view that Trump's tariff threats over Greenland 'completely wrong'2h agoStarmer says Greenland's future must be decided by Greenland and Denmark 'alone'2h agoStarmer calls for 'calm discussion' on future of Greenland2h agoStarmer says he is determined to keep UK-US relationship 'strong, constructive and focused on results'2h agoZack Polanski says UK can no longer basis its security policy on being 'America's poodle'2h agoLib Dems urge Starmer to join EU in imposing retaliatory tariffs in response to Trump's 'act of economic thuggery'2h agoStock markets fall as Trump renews tariff threats2h agoHow Starmer told Trump in call yesterday applying tariffs on allies for pursuing collective security 'wrong'3h agoStarmer to hold press conference amid Trump threatsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureHere is Pippa Crerar and Peter Walker’s story about the Keir Starmer press conference.Starmer's press conference - snap verdictWhen he was US president, Barack Obama seemed to relish the nickname “no drama Obama”. He took office at a time of financial crisis, and being viewed as ultra-calm and deliberative was seen as a bonus. The “no drama Starmer” version never quite took off (despite the best efforts of some), but this was the PM we saw this morning.We were told in advance that Starmer was not going to use his speech to pronounce the last rites over the UK-US relationship (see 8.31am) and, in news terms, the main takeaway was what he said playing down the prospect of the UK joining the EU in imposing retaliatory tariffs on the US. (See 9.36am.) He also suggested that some of Donald Trump’s threats were exaggerated (see 9.51am) and he expressed hope in the power of calm negotiation to find a way forward. So, while critical of the Trump Greenland tariff threat, he was more conciliatory than most other European leaders have been, and notably non-confrontational.Pro-Americanism is deeply embedded in UK prime ministerial politics (in part because of deep state aspects of the intelligence relationship that aren’t particularly visible) and most prime ministers of the post-war period would have ended up saying something similar in these circumstances (with the possible exception of Ted Heath). Starmer seems to be caculating that Trump is, to some extent bluffing, and that he will back down. He often has, and so maybe Starmer will be proved right. But there remains a risk that Starmer has miscalculated, and that the UK-US relationship will end up damaged beyond repair.Keir Starmer arriving for his press conference. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/ReutersKeir Starmer has finished his press conference. He took a reasonable number of questions but – in line with its new policy of restricting lobby briefings – No 10 is not holding lobby briefing today, which means that journalists won’t have the chance to collectively put follow-up questions to the PM’s spokesperson.Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, and Yvette Cooper, the foreign secretary, listening to Keir Starmer at this press conference. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/ReutersStarmer says he wants to restrict time under-5s spend on screens, as he confirms teen social media ban being consideredQ: Do you support banning social media use for under-16s?Starmer replied: On the question of social media more broadly, I think we need to do more to protect children. And that’s why we’re looking at a range of options and saying that no options are off the table. We’re obviously looking at what’s happened in Australia, something I’ve discussed with the Australian prime minister. I don’t think it’s just a question of social media and children under 16. I think we’ve got to look at a range of measures. I’m particularly concerned about screen time for under-fives, which is not so much about social media, but about literally screen time and the impact it’s having on children when they arrive at school. So I do think we need to look across the range. But, in direct answer to your question, do we need to do more to protect children when it comes to social media and screen time and associated harms, then yes, we do. Keir Starmer at his press conference. Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/ReutersQ: [From the Guardian’s Peter Walker] Today Trump’s message to the Norwegian PM has been widely reported. Can you understand why people think he just isn’t serious?Trump goes full Mad King..In a letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister, Trump blames his coming invasions on Norway refusing to give him the Nobel Prize."Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an… pic.twitter.com/v7fC2IPApX— Jay in Kyiv (@JayinKyiv) January 19, 2026 Starmer says he undersands why people in the UK felt as they did about the tariff’s announcment.Q; [From Andy Bell’s Five Live] Don’t you think you have been too soft on Trump?Starmer does not accept that. He says the approach he has taken has generated billions of pounds in investment, securing many jobs.And security cooperation with the US keeps the UK safe, in ways he cannot always discuss, he says.Starmer says he does not think Trump seriously considering military action against GreenlandQ: [From the Telegraph’s Ben Riley-Smith] Do you think Trump is genuinely considering military action against Greenland?“I don’t actually,” says Starmer.He says he thinks this can be resolved by discussion.Q: [From Bloomberg’s Kitty Donaldson] The US supreme court will soon rule on the tariff policy. Is it worth waiting until that judgment? And what is your answer to the question about the king’s visit?On the supreme court, Starmer says he does not want to wait until the supreme court ruling comes out.On the question about the king’s visit, Starmer says he wants to focus on “the pragmatic response here”.That implies he is not in favour of the boycott some people are calling for.Starmer says he clarified nature of European troop deployment to Greenland when he spoke to TrumpQ: [From Gary Gibbon from Channel 4 News] Is there anything that Trump could do that would make you stop thinking of him as an ally? And do you think he announced tariffs because he had been misinformed about the nature of the military deployment by some European countries to Greenland?Starmer said he spoke to Trump about the deployment yesterday, and stressed that soldiers were going there to protect it from Russia.(He does not dispute the suggestion that Trump may have believed it was an anti-US deployment.)On the other point, he says working with allies does not mean pretending they don’t have differences.Starmer says he does not accept UK has to choose between US and EuropeQ: [From GB News’s Christopher Hope] Is it time to choose between the US and Europe?Starmer replied: Firstly, I don’t think it’s right for us to choose between the US and Europe. That’s not a new position today. That’s the position I’ve consistently held, as have previous governments. Starmer avoids question about whether Greenland row should lead to cancellation of King Charles's visit to USQ: [From ITV’s Robert Peston] It is clear that it has been wrong to assume that Trump respects international law. When will you respond with tariffs? And will you speak to the king about cancelling his planned state visit to the US?Starmer replied: As I’ve said, threatening tariffs on allies is the wrong thing to do. Completely wrong. A trade war is not in our interests. And therefore, my first task is to ensure we don’t get to that place, which is what I’m focused on. He did not address the state visit point.Starmer plays down prospect of imposing retaliatory tariffs on USStarmer is now taking questions.Q: Would you consider responding with tariffs?Starmer says he does not want a trade war. He says tariffs would not be in anyone’s interests. We must find a pragmatic, sensible, sustained way through this, that avoids some of the consequences that will be very serious for our country. Starmer criticises politicians who have responded to Greenland crisis with 'grandstanding'Starmer concludes by welcoming the stance taken by Kemi Badenoch on Greenland.But, he goes on: [In] moments like this there will always be people who reach for the performative, who think an angry social media post or grandstanding is a substitute for hard work. That’s an understandable instinct, but it’s not effective. It never has been. It may make politicians feel good, but it does nothing for working people whose jobs, livelihoods and security rely on the relationships that we build across the world. This seems to be a jibe at people like Ed Davey (see 9am) and Zack Polanski (see 9.15am).Starmer says he spoke to Trump yesterday.He welcomes the role he is playing in Gaza, and his efforts to bring peace to Ukraine.And he says foreign affairs matter to people in the UK. In today’s world, geopolitics is not something that happens somewhere else. It shapes the cost of energy, the price of food, the security of jobs, and the stability that families rely on to plan their lives. Starmer restates his view that Trump's tariff threats over Greenland 'completely wrong'Starmer says Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on Nato allies over this is “completely wrong”. Denmark is a close ally of the United Kingdom and of the United States, a proud Nato member that is stood shoulder to shoulder with us, including at real human cost. In recent decades, alliances endure because they’re built on respect and partnership, not pressure. That is why I said the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong. It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance, nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland security as a justification for economic pressure. Such measures hurt British workers, British businesses and the British economy. And that is why I’ve been so clear on this issue. A trade war is in no one’s interest, and my job is always to act in the UK’s national interest.