UK Will Return to ‘Responsible Global Leadership’: Starmer

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with Foreign Secretary David Lammy (centre left) attend the Security Council during the 79th United Nations General Assembly at the U.N. headquarters in New York, on Sept. 25, 2024. Leon Neal/PA Wire

The UK will return to “responsible global leadership,” working with the international community to solve issues like war, poverty, and climate change, the prime minister will say when he addresses the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.

Sir Keir Starmer will signal a reset of global relations under his watch, saying this is the moment “to recommit to the UN, to internationalism, to the rule of law.”

“This is the moment to reassert fundamental principles and our willingness to defend them,” Starmer will say, according to a preview of his speech released by the prime minister’s office.

He will tell leaders from around the world: “I know that this matters to the British people. War, poverty and climate change all rebound on us at home. They make us less secure, they harm our economy, and they create migration flows on an unprecedented scale.

“The British people are safer and more prosperous when we work internationally to solve these problems, instead of merely trying to manage their effects. So, the responsible global leadership that we will pursue is undeniably in our self-interest.”

The speech follows a push from Starmer, leading a new Labour government, to create closer ties with the European Union and member states like Germany.

The U.N. address will also come as the UK is aligning itself with allies in calling for ceasefires in the Middle East and recommitting to support for Ukraine in its war with Russia.

Starmer Calls for Ceasefire

World leaders are meeting at the U.N. in New York as the conflict intensifies between Israel and Hamas and Hezbollah, with Starmer saying earlier this week that “we are potentially at a brink point.”

On Wednesday, the UK joined allies including the United States and France in calling for the governments of Israel and Lebanon to endorse a 21-day ceasefire, as well as calling for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

Starmer told the U.N. Security Council that he was worried about escalation in the region, saying: “I’m calling for all parties to step back from the brink, to de-escalate. We need a ceasefire so this can be sorted out diplomatically.”

Earlier this week, the government urged British nationals to leave Lebanon using the remaining commercial routes, while the UK deploys 700 troops to prepare for a possible evacuation of thousands of Britons.

Starmer reiterated the call, saying on Wednesday: “I have a very important message for British nationals in Lebanon which is: the time to leave is now.

“The contingency plans are being ramped up but don’t wait for those, there are still commercial flights.

“It’s very important that they hear my message, which is to leave and to leave immediately.”

Condemnation of Russia

During the Security Council meeting, the prime minister also criticised Russia’s President Vladimir Putin for treating his citizens as “bits of meat to fling into the grinder” in the war with Ukraine.

He said Russia—which, like the UK, is a permanent member of the Security Council—was behind the “greatest violation of the [U.N.] charter in a generation.”

Starmer said: “Russia started this illegal war. It must end it—and get out of Ukraine.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been pushing U.S. President Joe Biden and Starmer to be allowed to use long-range Western weaponry against Russia. So far the United States and UK have refused over concerns it could escalate tensions between NATO and Russia.

Starmer met with Zelenskyy at the U.N. on Wednesday to assure him that the UK’s support for Ukraine remains “steadfast.”

Following the meeting, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The prime minister acknowledged that Ukraine is at a critical point in the war, but he reiterated the UK’s support is ironclad and will continue for as long as it takes.

“President Zelenskyy set out his ambitions for the coming months and thanked the prime minister for the UK’s continued backing.

“They agreed to keep in close contact in the coming weeks.”

PA Media contributed to this report.