Health secretary said he is not doing ‘victory laps’ as Labour says it has met its manifesto promise early
Health secretary Wes Streeting has been on the media round for the government this morning, and has been asked about Keir Starmer’s commitment to put British troops on the ground in Ukraine in a peacekeeping role if required by any peace deal.
Speaking on Times Radio he said it was “premature” to talk about how many British troops could be sent. PA Media reports he told listeners:
The prime minister will be travelling to France to meet with other European Nato leaders to discuss what is a once-in-a-generation moment for the collective security of our continent, which isn’t just about the future of Ukraine, it is an existential question for Europe as a whole.
That’s why the gathering [in Paris] today is important. Next week, he’ll be travelling to Washington to meet with President Trump, no doubt relaying the outcome of some of those discussions today.
Europe must step up further to meet the demands of its own security. We have got to show we are truly serious about our own defence and bearing our own burden. We have talked about it for too long – and president Trump is right to demand that we get on with it.
Russia is still waging war and Ukraine is still fighting for its freedom, which is why we must not relent in our efforts to get the kit Ukrainians need for their fighters on the front line. While the fighting continues, we must put Ukraine in the strongest possible position ahead of any talks.
The Paris meeting will aim to outline a European action plan after days of chaotic briefing by the Trump administration. The summit will also need to decide how to respond to a request by the US to spell out whether leaders are prepared to commit troops to a stabilisation force in the event of a ceasefire.
Confirming the Paris meeting, France’s foreign minister, Jean-Noël Barrot, told France Inter radio on Sunday: “The president will bring together the main European countries tomorrow for discussions on European security.” He said there was a wind of unity blowing through.
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Source link : https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2025/feb/17/wes-streeting-labour-keir-starmer-nhs-appointment-pledge-uk-politics-live
Author : Martin Belam
Publish date : 2025-02-17 09:33:00
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