2025: Week 23 - G7

Last week was the G7 summit which was held in Canada.  It was very timely given the escalation of conflict in the Middle East, so Starmer must use this opportunity to build an international consensus on how to move forward with creating a lasting peace for the area.

It was also an opportunity for Starmer to finalise the trade agreement with Trump, and it appears that it has finally been signed.  I’m not sure of the significance of Trump promptly dropping the signed papers and Starmer scrabbling around on the floor to retrieve them, perhaps it symbolises how little Trump values these deals.  Whilst it could be welcome news for the car manufacturing industries there appears to be no concessions for the steel industry.  Now the deal has been signed it can come back to Parliament where we can give it the scrutiny it so dearly needs. 

It was also reported that Trump left the summit a day early, another sign that he has no interest in collaborating with his fellow leaders, so now is the time for Starmer to act. He should build a coalition of the willing with the leaders who stayed – to back free trade and seize frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. Show the world that the UK can lead without asking Trump for permission.

This week the Government have announced a Full National Statutory Inquiry into grooming gangs. This has come as a result of the report led by Baroness Casey, and it is right that the Government is following the recommendations made.  We’ve always been clear that we support whatever action is needed to deliver justice and prevent these sickening acts from happening again, including another inquiry. We’ll need to wait and see all the recommendations that Baroness Casey makes, but it’s right that the Government gets on and delivers these. We’re focused on pushing for real change and supporting the victims.  I’ve often been asked why the Lib Dems voted against the amendment tabled by the Conservatives earlier this year on this topic, the truth is that amendment would not have secured a national inquiry. Instead, the Conservatives were using the victims of this scandal as a political football. The only thing their amendment would have achieved is blocking the Children’s Wellbeing Bill from passing through Parliament - which has many important measures relating to child protection and safeguarding which we have long been calling for. We’re focused on pushing for real change and supporting the victims.

This subject has also shone a spotlight on the need for the so-called “Hillsborough Law”.  This is a law which would create a “duty of candour” that requires public officials and authorities to cooperate fully with an inquiry like this - so it’s deeply disappointing that the Government has delayed bringing this forward. We will keep pushing them to keep this promise and finally introduce a Hillsborough Law.