Politics latest: Starmer in 'unusual' position as under-pressure Biden welcomes him to first NATO summit (2024)

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Sir Keir Starmer is seated next to US President Joe Biden at the NATO council meeting in Washington - the main event so far as the summit is concerned today.

But while the prime minister arrived off the back of a huge election win, his counterpart is under mounting pressure to step down as the Democratic nominee in this November's election.

Old ally Nancy Pelosi has not exactly offered a ringing endorsem*nt tonight - and now Democrat backer and "friend" of the veteran president, George Clooney, has told him to quit.

You can read more on that below:

By Darren McCaffrey, political correspondent

Had Rishi Sunak waited until the autumn to call the election, it would have been him at today's NATO summit instead of Keir Starmer.

Instead, the former prime minister turned up just a little after 5pm for the first full post-election meet of the Tories' backbench 1922 committee in parliament this evening.

And frankly it was a lot less full that it used to be.

The Boothroyd room which was booked has a capacity of 120 - about the right size for the newly shrunken Tory party.

'Sorrowful and apologetic'

The former prime minister, and man who still leads the Conservatives, received the usual banging of the tables as he entered the room - even if it was a little lacklustre.

I was told afterwards the mood was "sorrowful and apologetic" and while critical comments were made, they were not aimed directly at Mr Sunak.

So, what next?

Bob Blackman, who is now chair of the committee, told me nothing "will be rushed through in July" - which means the start of the contest to find a new leader won't begin until parliament reconvenes in September.

That suggests it could be a long campaign into the winter (like David Cameron in 2005), though some still think that is too long and will insist on a shorter election period.

Is an interim leader on the cards?

As for Mr Sunak, he has claimed he is willing to stay on for as long as the party wants. But Mr Blackman told me his expectation is he won't be party leader by party conference in late September.

Might there have to be an interim leader? And can the Conservatives even agree on who that would be?

Away from the NATO summit in the US, we've had an announcement from the new government on water companies.

The sewage scandal was a big campaigning topic in the election.

Environment Secretary Steve Reed is meeting with the heads of all the UK's water firms tomorrow - the same day regulator Ofwat will publish draft determinations on their investment plans for the next five years.

His department has announced the government will write to Ofwat to tell the regulator to ensure infrastructure investment is ringfenced to spend on upgrades benefitting customers and the environment.

If the money isn't spent, the government wants companies to refund customers with "money never allowed to be diverted for bonuses, dividends, or salary increases".

Another step being announced is customers will be able to hold water company chiefs to account using "customer panels" - which will have the power to summon board members and question them.

Compensation to customers will also be increased when services are impacted - with it expected to more than double.

Payments will also be triggered by a wider set of circ*mstances.

'Unacceptable destruction'

Mr Reed says more reforms are on the way but change "will take time".

He added: "We will never look the other way while water companies pump sewage into our rivers, lakes, and seas.

"This unacceptable destruction of our waterways should never have been allowed, but change has now begun so it can never happen again."

The UK will cooperate with China where "necessary" but also offer "robust challenge", Sir Keir Starmer has said.

Speaking to reporters during his trip to Washington DC, the prime minister was asked how his new government would deal with Beijing.

He said there could be some opportunities to cooperate "on issues like climate change", but he would "challenge" the Chinese where necessary, "equally and robustly".

Sir Keir said the government was carrying out an "audit" of relations with China and would then "take action accordingly".

This week's NATO summit in Washington DC makes for a "really important beginning" to Keir Starmer's premiership - but it's even more critical for Ukraine.

Our US correspondent Mark Stonesays members of the alliance are desperately trying to counter the "vibe" that Russia have gained the upper-hand against Kyiv's forces.

We've already had an announcement from the White House of five new anti-aircraft missile systems for Ukraine, with talk of providing even more weapons and ensuring a path to NATO membership.

Keir Starmer has been very on message on this front, too.

But something notable is missing, says Mark: "A roadmap to how this all ends - to peace."

The elephant in the room is that "everyone behind the scenes" likely accepts there will have to be "some sort of peace process".

And while "they won't say it", that will "almost certainly" involve Ukraine conceding some land taken by Russia.

But for now, the message coming out of this summit is "upholding democracy around the world".

This week's NATO summit, on the 75th anniversary of the alliance, is a crucial moment for Ukraine.

The Biden administration - under mounting pressure over concerns about the president's age - is seeking to bake in its support before the November election.

A second Donald Trump presidency would represent a dramatic shift in foreign policy.

For now, a new NATO command for Ukraine to provide security assistance and training is being announced at the summit, alongside immediate military support, including air defence.

NATO's 32 members are poised to unveil "substantial" new aid and the US secretary of state, Antony Blinken, has said Ukraine is on an "irreversible" path towards membership.

Alliance partners have already said they will deliver five additional Patriot and other air defence systems to Kyiv.

It's quite the first summit for Sir Keir Starmer to attend...

We've just had a few shots from the traditional, so-called family photo of NATO leaders marking the start of their summit.

Sir Keir Starmer was among them for the first time, flanked by the alliance's outgoing secretary general Jens Stoltenberg and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Sir Keir Starmer and Joe Biden have been pictured together for the first time.

The duo appeared next to one another as NATO leaders stood for photo opportunities with the alliance's secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, and host Mr Biden.

It is Sir Keir's first picture with the leader of the US, who is under mounting pressure to potentially step aside as the Democratic nominee for president in November's election.

Earlier, it was announced Sir Keir was getting Mr Biden a personalised Arsenal football shirt as a gift.

A picture of the full NATO line-up will be taken later.

As the new prime minister makes his international debut at the NATOsummit in Washington – what does he need to do to make a quick impact with international colleagues?

On today's Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by political correspondent Tamara Cohen to discuss how Sir Keiris tackling his first overseas visit.

Plus,Lord Peter Ricketts, former diplomatand French ambassador,joins Niall to lookat Labour's wider foreign policy plans.

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