Starmer defends Biden ahead of White House meeting after claims president isn’t mentally fit as PM faces defence row
SIR Keir Starmer has dismissed suggestions US President Joe Biden is too old for the job - ahead of their first meeting at the White House today.
The new Prime Minister knocked back claims that his age restriction of 80 in the House of Lords should have any bearing in the Presidential race.
Biden is under increasing pressure to stand down after a dismal performance last month in the CNN TV debate against Donald Trump.
Several senior Democrats have called on their candidate to stand down in the race and elect someone younger.
Sir Keir said his age limits for the House of Lords are being brought in to restrict the numbers of Peers - rather than especially to do with age concerns.
He said: "In terms of the age in the House of Lords, the simple fact is that our House of Lords is massive. It’s the second biggest political chamber in the world. "I think it’s only the Chinese who have a bigger political chamber than our House of Lords, we have to reduce it.
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"That is the primary driver of the retirement at 80. You can see why that needs to be done. We’ve got 800-plus members of the House of Lords, it’s simply too big. We need to reduce it.
"So it doesn’t reflect on how other elected representatives are chosen in other countries, it’s to do with the size of the House of Lords."
Meanwhile, the new Prime Minister will continue to strengthen the "special relationship" as they try to thwart adversaries in their meeting later.
President Biden and Sir Keir will spend time talking through Russia's invasion of Ukraine and tensions in the Middle East.
It is the first time the pair have met although they did hold their first conversation last Friday hours after he became PM.
The US President was on board Air Force Once when they spoke.
Speaking on board his flight as he travelled to the US for the NATO summit, he said: "I’ve already had a phone call with President Biden.
"I want to follow up on that, this is obviously a very special relationship we have between the UK and the US.
"We have, within that, a special aspect when it comes to defence and security for obvious reasons including our commitment to NATO.
"We make a unique contribution in Europe to Nato and therefore it’s a very good opportunity for me to talk to the President about how we take forward the important work at this summit."
Their meeting comes as the PM is under huge pressure to increase defence spending.
Philip Ingram, a former colonel in British military intelligence, told The Times the PM is "playing with fire" by delaying a timetable for the hike.
He said: “The threat is now and it will take years to fix the army, our ammunition stocks, get the RAF and navy ready”.
This morning Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard insisted a new strategic review into defence spending, beginning next week, will set out a path to 2.5 per cent.
he review will consider Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, Middle East instability and the rise of authoritarian countries such as China and Iran.
It will also look at Britain’s military’s capabilities in the face of growing threats.
Mr Pollard told Times Radio: "This will be a Nato-first strategic defence review, a focus on our unshakeable commitment to the North Atlantic, to the Europe area, to make sure that we're keeping not only the UK safe but keeping our allies safe.
Starmer could boost Armed Forces
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said last night that the UK has a "cast iron" commitment to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence.
He said ramping up defence spending could help Nato respond to threats around the world.
Sir Keir will launch the new government's Strategic Defence Review next week.
The review will consider how Britain's Armed Forces should change to tackle threats like Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
It could open the door to a boost in the size of the Armed Forces, insiders told the Telegraph.
But Sir Keir refused to put a timeline on when Britain will hit the 2.5% goal.
"Because if we don't support Ukraine and if they don't win, Russia won't stop there."
In the US, Sir Keir will tell the 75th anniversary Nato meeting that he is determined to face down our adversaries.
The PM is set to say at the summit — his first overseas trip in office — that stepping up spending will safeguard the alliance.
Sir Keir said: “There is no more important duty for me as Prime Minister than keeping the people of our country safe.
“At a time when we face multiple threats at home and abroad, we must make sure we are ready to defend ourselves.
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“That’s why I have immediately ordered a root-and-branch review that will secure Britain’s defences for the future.
"Working with our most important partners around the world, our Strategic Defence Review will make sure the UK is sending a clear message to those who seek to undermine peace and democracy: You will not succeed.”