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00:00What matters most is being clear about the values and the interests that guide us, even as circumstances change.
00:10The United Kingdom has a long history.
00:14Our values were not improvised, they were built patiently over time.
00:20And while we are pragmatic in how we pursue our interests, we are resolute in defending those values when it matters.
00:31So let me begin with the United States.
00:36The UK and the US are close allies and close partners.
00:41That relationship matters profoundly, not just to our security, but to the prosperity and the stability that people here depend upon.
00:55Under President Trump, as under previous presidents, we're determined to keep that relationship strong, constructive and focused on results.
01:06And that approach is delivering.
01:10Through sustained engagement, we've seen significant US investment into the UK economy, running into hundreds of billions of pounds, supporting growth, skills and jobs right across the country.
01:25Our cooperation on defence, nuclear capability and intelligence remains as close and effective as anywhere in the world.
01:36Keeping Britain safe in an increasingly dangerous environment.
01:41We've secured good trading terms in key sectors, including cars, steel, aerospace and life sciences.
01:49Protecting British jobs and manufacturers.
01:53That is why we take the approach that we do.
01:58Because it delivers concrete outcomes in the national interest.
02:02I talk regularly to President Trump.
02:07My team is in daily contact with all the key figures in his administration.
02:13These relationships matter.
02:16They deliver concrete outcomes in the national interest.
02:20Mature alliances are not about pretending differences don't exist.
02:29They are about addressing them directly, respectfully and with a focus on results.
02:37On Greenland, the right way to approach an issue of this seriousness is through calm discussion between allies.
02:46And let's be clear, the security of Greenland matters.
02:51And it will matter more as climate change reshapes the Arctic.
02:56As sea routes open and strategic competition intensifies, the high north will require greater attention, greater investment and stronger collective defence.
03:07The United States, the United States, the United States, the United States, the United States will be central to that effort.
03:12And the UK stands ready to contribute fully alongside our allies through NATO.
03:18But there is a principle here that cannot be set aside because it goes to the heart of how stable and trusted international cooperation works.
03:32And so any decision about the future status of Greenland belongs to the people of Greenland and the Kingdom of Denmark alone.
03:46That right is fundamental and we support it.
03:51Denmark is a close ally of the United Kingdom and of the United States, a proud NATO member that has stood shoulder to shoulder with us, including at real human cost in recent decades.
04:07Alliances endure because they are built on respect and partnership, not pressure.
04:17That is why I said the use of tariffs against allies is completely wrong.
04:25It is not the right way to resolve differences within an alliance.
04:30Nor is it helpful to frame efforts to strengthen Greenland's security as a justification for economic pressure.
04:41Such measures hurt British workers, British businesses and the British economy.
04:48And that is why I've been so clear on this issue.
04:51A trade war is in no one's interest.
04:57And my job is always to act in the UK's national interest.
05:03That is why yesterday I spoke to President Trump, to European leaders and to the Secretary General of NATO.
05:12To find a solution rooted in partnership, facts and mutual respect.
05:19Because that is how strong alliances protect shared interests.
05:25The same is true on other issues.
05:28In the Middle East, we welcome President Trump's focus on sustaining the ceasefire in Gaza and moving on to phase two.
05:38We are open to participating constructively in such efforts.
05:42On Ukraine, I can be brief, we strongly support efforts to bring the killing to an end and secure a ceasefire as soon as possible.
05:55We recognise President Trump's role in pushing that process forward.
05:59And we will work closely with the United States, Ukraine and our other allies to apply pressure where it belongs on Putin.
06:10Finally, let me say why all this matters so directly to people here at home.
06:20In today's world, geopolitics is not something that happens somewhere else.
06:26It shapes the cost of energy, the price of food, the security of jobs and the stability that families rely on to plan their lives.
06:38When war drives up fuel prices, it's households who feel it first.
06:44When supply chains fracture, it's small businesses and working people who absorb the shock.
06:52And when instability grows, it's rarely those with the most power who pay the price.
06:59That is why this government's approach is rooted in a simple belief that we must use every tool of government, domestic and international, to fight for the interests of ordinary people.
07:16At home, that means active government.
07:19It means taking responsibility for economic stability so that inflation is controlled, interest rates come down and family budgets are protected.
07:31It means stepping in where markets fail, strengthening resilience and ensuring that global shocks do not always land on the same people in the same places, the people least able to withstand them.
07:46That's why we've taken action to reduce energy bills, to freeze railfares and prescription charges.
07:54But tackling the cost of living today also means engagement beyond our borders.
08:01It requires shaping the world around us, not retreating from it.
08:06It requires strong alliances, steady diplomacy and rules that reduce uncertainty rather than amplify it.
08:14That is why our commitment to international law and to alliances founded on trust is not abstract or ideological.
08:24It's practical.
08:26It's about stability, predictability and fairness.
08:31The conditions that keep prices down, jobs secure and economies resilient.
08:36That is what active government looks like in an age of uncertainty, steady at home, engaged abroad and always focused on protecting the people that we serve.
08:50Britain is a pragmatic country.
08:55We look for agreement.
08:57We believe in partnership.
08:59We prefer solutions to slogans.
09:02And we will not indulge in commentary and gesture politics that harm the British people.
09:09But being pragmatic does not mean being passive.
09:15And partnership does not mean abandoning principle.
09:18That is why it's important to be clear about who we stand with, what we stand for and where our interests lie.
09:31Now this is a moment for the whole country to pull together.
09:35So I warmly welcome the support we've had with regards to Greenland and the proposed tariffs from the leader of the opposition.
09:43I thank her for her support.
09:46At 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.
09:57That's an understandable instinct.
10:01But it's not effective.
10:04It never has been.
10:05It may make politicians feel good.
10:08But it does nothing for working people whose jobs, livelihoods and security rely on the relationships that we build across the world.
10:18So to conclude, we will work with our allies in Europe, across NATO and with the United States.
10:28We will keep dialogue open.
10:31We will defend international law.
10:33And we will use the full strength of government, at home and abroad, to protect the security, living standards and future of the British people.
10:43That is the approach I will take as Prime Minister.
10:47And that is the responsibility that this moment demands.
10:53I'm now going to take some questions and I've got a fairly extensive list you'll be pleased to know.
11:03I'm going to start, Chris, with Chris Mason.
11:06Keir Starmer there, talking in London.
11:08Well, Doug Herbert, our international affairs commentator, is back with me once again.
11:12Doug, it was quite strong words, I would say, from Keir Starmer.
11:15He talks about principles that cannot be set aside.
11:18He talks about decisions belonging to the people of Greenland and Denmark.
11:22He also talked about alliances enduring because of respect and partnership and not pressure.
11:28Pretty obvious who he's talking about.
11:30I think you're right in setting that tone there, Stuart.
11:33Strong words, and I will just qualify it for Keir Starmer.
11:37Because remember, this is the Prime Minister who famously went almost cap in hand to that White House Oval Office meeting with Trump
11:44and proffered that invitation for a state visit from King Charles.
11:49He has been known as, you know, one of the chief grovelers in Europe, not in the EU.
11:57Obviously, Britain's no longer part of the EU.
11:59And even if, you know, he has had sometimes some pushback against Trump, his overall emphasis until now has been on maintaining that sort of so-called close and special relationship between the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
12:14Even if that was sometimes seen as being at the detriment of the European Union from which Britain withdrew in Brexit.
12:21And Britain is often seen as getting some special better tariff treatment, better investment from the U.S. into the U.K. as a result.
12:29So, you know, he would say it is doing the bidding of the British people here.
12:33But you're right.
12:34Strong words in the sense that I think that my takeaways are that he said explicitly that the future of Greenland is really a matter for the people of Greenland and Denmark.
12:46You want to break back?
12:48Yeah, we're going to get back to Keir Starmer because he's taking some questions, in fact.
12:51So let's hear what he had to say.
12:55To underscore your point, this has been very badly received across the United Kingdom.
12:59We're allies of the United States and we work closely with them.
13:05And therefore, I'm not surprised by the reaction that's been across the United Kingdom.
13:09And it is a very serious situation.
13:11Our job is to ensure that we find a way forward consistent with our principles and our values and consistent with our national interest.
13:22And the U.S. remains a close ally on defense, on security and on intelligence, on nuclear capability.
13:29We work very closely with the United States and we must never lose sight of our national interest in that.
13:36But we must stand up for our values.
13:37We must be clear about the principles that we are applying here and we'll continue to do so.
13:43On the question of tariffs, a tariff war isn't in anybody's interests.
13:48And therefore, what I want to do is to avoid a tariff war because it will be businesses, workers and families across the country that will be hit by a trade war.
13:58And therefore, I will do as I've set out, which is to engage with our European allies, with President Trump.
14:07And Chris, in response to the second part of your question, I spoke to President Trump yesterday, as I think you all know.
14:14And I'll no doubt speak to him again in coming days.
14:16But we must find a pragmatic, sensible, sustained way through this that avoids some of the consequences that will be very serious for our country.
14:30Thank you very much, Beth.
14:33Robert Peston.
14:34Robert Peston, ITV.
14:36Prime Minister, your entire approach is predicated on the idea that Donald Trump is amenable to reason and respects the rule of law.
14:44But it's blatantly clear that neither of those assumptions are true.
14:49So when will you consider some kind of economic retaliation through tariffs?
14:54And will you talk to the monarch, to the king, about not going to America to celebrate 250 years since independence?
15:04Well, Robert, this is a serious situation.
15:08And as I've said, threatening tariffs on allies is the wrong thing to do, completely wrong.
15:15And a trade war is not in our interests.
15:18And therefore, my first task is to ensure we don't get to that place, which is what I'm focused on at the moment and will continue to focus on.
15:27In relation to wider issues, I don't want to lose sight of the central goal here, which is to avoid the seriousness that a trade war would bring.
15:36In relation to your broader point, we do have to remember at all times that it is in our national interest that we continue to work with the Americans when it comes to defence, to security and to intelligence.
15:51Our nuclear deterrent is our foremost weapon and deterrent when it comes to securing the safety of everybody in the United Kingdom.
16:01It's my primary duty. And that requires us to have a good relationship with the United States.
16:06But it doesn't mean, as I said a moment ago, that we pretend we don't have differences.
16:10We do have differences. And I've set out some of those differences here this morning in relation to Greenland.
16:15Differences of opinion in terms of who should decide the future of Greenland.
16:19I'm very clear in my position in that.
16:21And differences of opinion on the use of tariffs in a situation like this.
16:25And again, I've been very clear saying they're completely wrong.
16:28So we apply our values and we seek a solution that's in our national interest.
16:35Thank you, Robert.
16:37Chris Hope.
16:38Chris Hope, GB News, Prime Minister.
16:41Donald Trump says he no longer feels an obligation to think purely of peace.
16:45It's now the moment you must choose between the US and the EU.
16:49Is this a fracturing in your special relationship?
16:51Firstly, I don't think it's right for us to choose between the US and Europe.
16:59That's not a new position today.
17:00That's the position I've consistently held, as have previous governments, because we are allies with our European partners and allies with the US.
17:11And the strength in being able to keep both those alliances has served us well over the last 80 years.
17:20So this is not a moment to sort of choose one between the other.
17:23I have argued, and this is not an argument for the first time today, and I've spoken to European allies and leaders about the need for Europe to step up and do more in its own defence and security.
17:35I feel that over many years, we've not paid enough attention to what we European nations can and should do in our own defence.
17:44And this reinforces why it's important that we do that in defence and security.
17:50And defence and security these days, of course, includes energy and resilience and cyber, as well as the traditional defence and security.
17:58Europe has to step up into that space.
18:00And that's an argument I've been leading on and making for a number of months now with our European partners, and we'll continue to do so.
18:07Thank you, Chris.
18:08I've got Gary Gibbon from Channel 4.
18:10Gary.
18:11Thank you, Prime Minister.
18:14You say that Donald Trump remains an ally, but a lot of people would look at his behaviours and say he's not remotely behaving like an ally.
18:22Is there anything he could do that would make you think he was no longer an ally?
18:29Or is it just unthinkable that we totally locked in?
18:31And just one other, if I may, some puzzlement that those forces, quite limited military personnel that went to Greenland, that he interpreted that as a hostile act.
18:41Do you have any sense that he might have been misinformed about that in the entire expedition?
18:46Well, taking the second bit first, if I may, that is one of the things I discussed with President Trump yesterday in relation to those forces which were clearly there to assess and work on risk from the Russians.
19:01And so there's real clarity, I hope, about that.
19:05In relation to the relationship, we must never lose sight of the fact that on defence, security, intelligence and nuclear capability, we work very closely with our US allies.
19:17And it's in our national interest to continue to do so.
19:20That doesn't mean pretending we don't have differences.
19:23And I don't think anybody could suggest I'm pretending we don't have differences.
19:27I'm spelling out what those differences are, what our principles and values are and how we approach them.
19:33But we do continue to work with the Americans.
19:36The situation in the Middle East is fragile.
19:40There is a ceasefire.
19:41We need to move to phase two.
19:43We mustn't lose sight of that.
19:45In Ukraine, we've been striving for a just and lasting peace for a long time now.
19:50We're four years into that conflict.
19:52It is in our interest to work with others to bring about that just and lasting peace.
19:57The last thing we should do is to simply throw all that away and pretend that it doesn't matter anymore.
20:05It does matter.
20:07But we don't do that by pretending we haven't got differences.
20:09We do have differences, and I'm spelling them out here this morning.
20:12Thank you very much, Gary.
20:13I've got Kitty Donaldson from iNews.
20:16Thank you, Prime Minister.
20:18The US Supreme Court is due to rule next week on whether the tariffs are legal for the President to use.
20:23Do you think it's worth just biding your time until next week?
20:27And secondly, I don't think you answered Robert's question, which was, do you think the King should go to the United States this year?
20:32I'm not going to comment on the Supreme Court ruling.
20:37I think it's due out reasonably soon.
20:39But I don't think it would be sensible to simply wait for the court.
20:46It's really important that we act now in response to the threat of tariffs.
20:52And that's why I spoke to President Trump yesterday and to numerous allies across Europe, many leaders during the course of yesterday afternoon, Secretary General of NATO.
21:04And we'll continue to do so today because it's in all our interests to act swiftly in relation to this matter.
21:11In relation to the King and other issues, as I said in my speech, I'm focused on the pragmatic response here, not the suggestion of others.
21:24And my focus is on what's in the national interest for our country, what is going to best protect workers, families, businesses.
21:33And I believe that's the approach that I've set out.
21:36Thank you, Kitty.
21:37I've got Craig Munro from the Metro.
21:39Craig Munro from Metro.
21:40You spoke about the cost of living in your speech there.
21:43How can you reassure people that the cost of living will improve in the UK when our economic picture is so reliant on an unreliable ally in an unstable global world?
21:56By taking the approach that I've set out today, some people appear to make the argument that what happens internationally is irrelevant to the cost of living issues that are faced across this country.
22:09I'm well aware that for all the volatility in the world, and we've seen plenty of that in the first few weeks of this year, the issue that is of central concern to families and communities across the country is the cost of living.
22:24Wherever you go in the country and ask people what their number one concern is, they will say it's the cost of living, and therefore we have to address it.
22:30We address it in a number of ways.
22:33Firstly, by taking the measures to stabilise the economy so that inflation coming down, interest rates coming down, and protecting family budgets is crucial to that.
22:42By being active where markets fail, stepping in on energy bills, railfares, prescription charges, etc.
22:49But also by working relentlessly on matters that are international, because the impact of what's happening internationally on what's happening domestically is obvious, it's real, it's probably more direct now than it's been at any time most of us can remember.
23:05And therefore, it would be to a dereliction of duty on the cost of living not to be engaged on the international stage.
23:12Thank you very much, Craig.
23:13I've got Jason Groves from the Daily Mail.
23:15Jason.
23:15Thanks, PM.
23:17Your Danish counterpart says NATO can't survive one member, the biggest, seizing the territory of another.
23:25Do you agree with her?
23:26And separately, are you willing to join the President's Board of Peace, and are you willing to pay for it?
23:32Well, look, in relation to the Danish Prime Minister, as you would have anticipated, I spoke to her on Saturday night.
23:39I spoke to her again yesterday and made absolutely clear our position on who decides the future of Greenland and the use of tariffs.
23:50And we're completely aligned on those issues.
23:53On the question of NATO, it is in all of our interest to make sure that NATO remains strong and stable.
24:03We had a very good NATO summit last year with more members than we've had before, with more unity than many people thought we would achieve.
24:12And NATO remains the single most effective and successful military alliance the world has ever known.
24:17And so it's in all of our interest to make sure that nothing is done to weaken NATO.
24:23On the question of the Board of Peace, look, we're supportive of the measures that are being taken across the Middle East, particularly the ceasefire.
24:30I do think we need to press on to phase two.
24:33We've indicated our willingness to play our part, and we will.
24:38And on the Board of Peace, we're talking to allies about the terms of the Board of Peace.
24:42Thank you very much, Jason.
24:44I've got Lizzie Buchan from the Daily Mirror.
24:46Thanks, Prime Minister.
24:48The head of the UN says that he believes that the US thinks its own power matters more than international law.
24:54Do you agree?
24:55And secondly, if I may, you've repeatedly promised to deliver a Hillsborough law, but the bill was pulled last night.
25:01Are you confident you can win back the support of families, and can you guarantee it becomes law before the end of the season?
25:06Yeah, thank you, Lizzie.
25:07Well, in relation to your first point, I've put my argument in my way, in my own words, and that's my approach, rather than sort of commentating on what others have said.
25:18On Hillsborough, as you know, I care hugely that we get this right, that we right the wrongs for very many families who've been let down, and ensure a better future for families in the future.
25:32In relation to the duty of candour, we've been clear that that matters.
25:37What we're now trying to do is just make sure we get the balance right when it comes to the application of any principle to the security and intelligence agencies.
25:46Obviously, I have to focus on the national interest, my primary duty as Prime Minister, which is to keep this country safe and secure.
25:56That is the duty I hold above all other duties, and I take it really seriously, which is why we're just taking time to make sure that we get that balance absolutely right.
26:06Thank you, Lizzie.
26:08George Parker from the FT.
26:09George.
26:10Thank you, Prime Minister.
26:11You mentioned in your joint letter the risk of a downward spiral if this issue isn't resolved.
26:16I just wondered if you could explain what you meant by that.
26:20And linked to that, do you think it's regrettable that the EU is talking about the possibility of serious trade reprisals and therefore risking a trade war?
26:27Firstly, what I meant by the downward spiral is the potential for this to cause huge damage for the UK, whether that's in a trade war or the weakening of alliances.
26:42And I do not want to see that happen.
26:44That doesn't mean that we put to one side our principles and our values.
26:47Quite the contrary.
26:48We're very clear about what they are, which is why I wanted to have this press conference this morning and to affirm those principles and values that we apply.
26:59In relation to the EU, look, firstly, we're coordinating very closely with the EU.
27:06I spoke to a number of EU leaders last night.
27:09I spoke to Ursula von der Leyen last night and intend to do so again either today or tomorrow so that we're closely aligned.
27:18There's proper unity and coordination in our response.
27:22They will decide exactly what they will do next during the course of today and the coming days.
27:30But we're working very closely with them, very closely coordinated.
27:35And they were among the courts that I was engaged on for most of the day yesterday.
27:40Thank you, George.
27:41And then can I go to Ben Riley-Smith, telegraph?
27:43Ben.
27:44Mr Prime Minister, Donald Trump and his team hinted at military action in Greenland.
27:49Do you think that's a genuine possibility?
27:51And secondly, if I may, you are under pressure from some quarters to increase defence spending quicker than you've already planned in the coming years.
27:59You yourself are accepting the threat picture is changing most weekly now.
28:02Would you consider increasing defence spending quicker than planned?
28:05Sorry, the very first bit of your first question.
28:09Military action.
28:10Yeah, what's the question there?
28:11Do you think Donald Trump is genuinely considering military action?
28:15Look, I don't actually.
28:17I think that this can be resolved and should be resolved through calm discussion, but with the application of the principles and values that I've set out in terms of who decides the future of Greenland.
28:32And making clear that the use of tariffs in this way is completely wrong.
28:37On defence spending, we've obviously set out our plans for this parliament and we made commitments at the NATO summit in relation to going beyond that.
28:45And we stand by them.
28:48I have made the argument that Europe needs to do more on defence and security.
28:53Partly that is a question of defence spend.
28:56I think European countries are and need to spend more on defence.
29:00It's also a question of coordination and collaboration because it's how we spend what we spend that matters as much as how much we spend.
29:09And that's part of the argument I've been making to European allies.
29:13If the Ukraine war has taught us one thing, it's that by having different capabilities in different countries in different ways, we haven't actually been able to be as effective as we might otherwise have been if we'd coordinated in years gone by.
29:26And I think it's really time for Europe to be much more united, much stronger on this issue.
29:32And that's one of the arguments I've been leading on and making to allies and leaders for some consistent and considerable time now.
29:40Thank you very much.
29:42And then Andy Bell from Channel 5.
29:46Andy.
29:49Thank you, Prime Minister.
29:51Isn't the conclusion from all that's happened up to now that you've been too soft with the President?
29:57And isn't the lesson we have to draw from what's happening now is that you have to start being tougher with him?
30:02Well, Andy, I don't agree with that assessment because taking the approach we've taken has yielded hundreds of billions of pounds of inward investment into the United Kingdom.
30:13That's hugely important for our economy and for jobs and businesses and the economy more generally.
30:21We are involved on a daily basis when it comes to security, defence and intelligence sharing, daily, 24-7, in relation to the interaction on intelligence between the US and the UK is the closest relationship of any two countries in the world.
30:43And that keeps us safe in ways I can't explain to you.
30:47But I can say very clearly it keeps us safe and is vital to every single person who lives in this country.
30:54And, of course, before we got to the better trading arrangements on cars, on pharmaceuticals, etc., many people were urging me not to take the approach that we did.
31:06But we did take the approach we did and we got better trading terms.
31:09And that's why I'm taking the approach I am to this situation to ensure that we focus on what's in our national interest.
31:17Thank you, Andy.
31:18And I've got Peter Walker from The Guardian.
31:21Peter.
31:23It's been widely reported this morning that the Norwegian Prime Minister has received a message from President Trump basically saying the President is peeved because he didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize.
31:32Whilst I'm sure everyone watching this will fully understand why there is a need for the UK and the US to kind of keep collaboration and links so close,
31:42can you understand why some voters look at what President Trump does and says and think, are we actually serious?
31:47Can we actually get anything from him?
31:49And if I may, I know that no policy has been announced yet, but from a personal point of view,
31:54do you think it would be a good idea for social media use to be restricted for younger people?
31:58Yeah, just on – I completely understand why what President Trump said about tariffs over the weekend has been so badly received in this country.
32:10I completely understand that.
32:12And I think that's understandable.
32:16And it's important that that is met with me setting out as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom what our principles and values are in response to that.
32:26And not pretending that we don't have differences, because strong, respectful alliances require the maturity to say where we disagree.
32:36And on this, we disagree.
32:38And I've been clear about that, and I've spoken to the President about it, and will continue to do so.
32:43But I do emphasise, whatever the understandable reaction of the British public over the weekend,
32:52it is on defence and security and intelligence and nuclear capability, manifestly in our interests,
32:59to have a strong relationship with the United Kingdom.
33:02Our nuclear capability is our single most important deterrent, bar none.
33:07And that has helped keep us safe for many, many years.
33:11On the question of social media more broadly, look, I think we need to do more to protect children.
33:17And that's why we're looking at a range of options and saying that no options are off the table.
33:23We're obviously looking at what's happened in Australia, something I've discussed with the Australian Prime Minister.
33:28I don't think it's just a question of social media and children under 16.
33:35I think we've got a range of measures.
33:37I'm particularly concerned about screen time for under fives, which is not so much about social media,
33:43but about literally screen time and the impact it's having on children when they arrive at school.
33:48So I do think we need to look across the range.
33:51But 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?
34:02Then, yes, we do.
34:03And that's why we're looking at a range of options.
34:06Thank you all very much indeed.
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