Labour’s Keir Starmer plots high-profile trip to see French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris next week (before the King) as he paints himself as PM-in-waiting

• Discussions are underway between the opposition and the Elysee 

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is in talks to meet French president Emmanuel Macron in Paris next week as he seeks to present himself as PM-in-waiting.

Discussions are underway between the opposition and the Elysee for what would be Sir Keir’s first public meeting with a head of state.

A Labour source said that the trip was not yet confirmed but discussions had taken place. 

It comes days after Mr Macron was spotted sharing a joke with PM Rishi Sunak at the G20, with the two leaders said to share a ‘bromance’ after cooler relations under the leadership of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss.

If confirmed, it will also raise eyebrows, coming days before a rescheduled state visit to France by the King and Queen.

Sir Keir’s trip would echo previous meetings between UK hopefuls and foreign leaders, including a 1-2-1 between US president Barack Obama and David Cameron in 2009 and a relationship between Bill Clinton and Tony Blair before Labour won in 1997.  

Discussions are underway between the opposition and the Elysee for what would be Sir Keir’s first public meeting with a head of state.

It comes days after Mr Macron was spotted sharing a joke with PM Rishi Sunak at the G20.

It echoes previous meetings between UK hopefuls and foreign leaders, including a 1-2-1 between US president Barack Obama and David Cameron in 2009 (pictured) and a relationship between Bill Clinton and Tony Blair before Labour won in 1997.

Politico, which first revealed plans for the visit, said Sir Keir plans to take an entourage to Paris that includes shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, shadow foreign secretary David Lammy and his new chief of staff, Sue Gray.

Catherine Haddon of the Institute for Government think tank, told the website: ‘The calculation is between looking like you are an alternative government-in-waiting, versus looking presumptive.

‘Starmer and his team clearly feel it works for them, and France is an important country to have a relationship with. But still, what is interesting in this is not that Starmer is doing this, but that Macron is.’

Charles will become the first British royal in history to address the French senate later this month as part of a new Anglo-French charm offensive.

His visit to France from September 20 will also include a glittering state banquet in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles.

President Macron is rolling out the red carpet for His Majesty’s re-scheduled state visit after his inaugural trip as monarch was cancelled in June amid violent protests over the country’s state pension.

The King and Queen Camilla are packing in 21 high-profile engagements in just three days, dividing their time between Paris and Bordeaux.

Source: Read Full Article