The Supreme Court has just ruled that the term “woman” refers to those born as biologically female.
The landmark moment has delivered a blow to the trans community and comes after years of campaigning from gender-critical groups.
Here’s a look at how we got here, and just what that means.
What just happened?
The UK Supreme Court, operated by the five most senior judges in the country, has officially defined what a woman is.
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Lord Reed, Lady Rose, Lord Lloyd-Jones, Lady Simler and Lord Hodge have all ruled sex is defined by biology.
It comes after gender-critical campaigners escalated a case looking at Scottish legislation about how to define gender.
Judges were looking at this question: “Is a person with a full GRC [gender recognition certificate] which recognises that their gender is female, a ‘woman’ for the purposes of the Equality Act 2010?”
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Lord Hodge announced today: “The unanimous decision of this court is that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.”
Essentially that means defining someone based on their reproductive organs and chromosomes rather than their gender identity and any gender-recognition process.
It has defined sex as binary.
Why was this issue even in the courts?
It comes after campaign groups of gender-critical women, For Women Scotland and Sex Matters, brought a case against the Scottish government to the Supreme Court.
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They were fighting against legislation led by former first minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2018 which aimed to set up gender quotas for public boards.
This law recognised trans women with gender recognition certificates (GRC) as women.
But the campaigners claim sex is biological and binary.
They said the legislation had broken with the separate definition of women and trans women as explained in the 2010 Equality Act.
They claimed that sex based protections should only be offered to those who were born biologically female – and therefore not include those with a GRC.
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So they began contesting the legislation in 2021 with a judicial review.
The Scottish government argued its legislation was in line with the definition of women in the Equality Act and trans women as defined by the 2004 Gender Recognition Act.
The 2004 legislation states: “Where a full gender recognition certificate has been issued to a person that their acquired gender is female, the person’s sex is that of a woman.”
The Scottish courts already ruled twice in the Scottish government’s favour, saying sex is “not limited to biological or birth sex” – including those with GRC.
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So the group escalated it to the Supreme Court – meaning the ruling will now impact the whole of Britain.
How did the judges come to this decision?
Hodge said the predecessors to the Equality Act used definitions of biological sex and gender reassignment was added as a separate characteristic.
He said: “Although the word ‘biological’ does not appear in this definition, the ordinary meaning of those plain and unambiguous words corresponds with the biological characteristics that make an individual a man or a woman.
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“These are assumed to be self-explanatory and to require no further explanation.
“Men and women are on the face of the definition only differentiated as a grouping by the biology they share with their group.”
Hodge also noted if people with Gender Reassignment Certificates were included in the sex group, it would make the Equality Act read in an “incoherent way”.
He said any issues linked to pregnancy and maternity can be read as referring to biological sex, but other parts of the Act referred to “certified sex”.
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However, he said this ruling should not be seen as a victory for either side of the argument, and claimed trans people are still protected in the law.
What does this mean for the trans community?
Lord Hodge said the marginalised group are still protected through the Equality Act 2010 against discrimination – indirect and direct – as well as harassment.
But trans rights campaigners fear this means they will lose protections and that public bodies and organisations will change how they operate in regard to single-sex spaces.
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Statista found the number of police recorded hate crimes against trans people has been rising in recent years. In 2023/24, there were 4,780 recorded incidents.
Trans women with GRCs may not be able to access women’s single-sex services.
The Good Law Project also claimed the court did not hear from a single trans person.
The campaigners added: “This ruling sets a dangerous precedent and erases trans women from protections. It puts trans rights back 20 years.”
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Scottish Trans told the public “not to panic” as it was working to “properly understand what the court has decided today”.
Writing on BlueSky, it said: “There will be lots of commentary coming out quickly that is likely to deliberately overstate the impact that this decision is going to have on all trans people’s lives. We’ll say more as soon as we’re able to. Please look out for yourselves and each other today.”
Helen Belcher, chair of trans advocacy group TransActual, said trans communities “are devastated by today’s ruling”.
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“The Supreme Court has made a ruling which appears to contain a number of contradictions. Irrespective of the small print, the intent seems clear: to exclude trans people wholesale from participating in UK society. Today, we are feeling very excluded.
“Yet, we have come through worse before and are not going away. Whatever the world throws at us, we will be back, each time, stronger and bolder than before.”
Amnesty International ’s chief executive Sacha Deshmukh, said the ruling was “disappointing”, adding: “All public authorities in the UK need to unequivocally enforce protections for trans people against discrimination and harassment.”
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What does it mean for British society as a whole?
The question over socialised gender and biological sex has been a culture war touchpoint for years now, leading to spike in abuse against the transcommunity.
Because the issue was escalated to the most senior court in the UK, the ruling will now impact the way the whole of Britain perceives sex and gender.
The outcome of the justices’ decision will hit the interpretation of the Gordon Brown-era 2010 Equality Act.
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It will affect how single-sex services work, how future equalities or gender policies are written.
A UK government spokesperson responded: “We have always supported the protection of single-sex spaces based on biological sex.
“This ruling brings clarity and confidence, for women and service providers such as hospitals, refuges, and sports clubs.
“Single-sex spaces are protected in law and will always be protected by this government.”
And, despite the judges’ warning not to see this as a victory, it is already being celebrated by the gender-critics.
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Tory Party leader Kemi Badenoch praised the decision, saying: “Saying ‘trans women are women’ was never true in fact, and now isn’t true in law either.
“This is a victory for all of the women who faced personal abuse or lost their jobs for stating the obvious. Women are women and men are men: you cannot change your biological sex.
“The era of Keir Starmer telling us women can have penises has come to an end. Well done to For Women Scotland!”
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Activists sing as they hold placards including “Women are born, not some bloke with a form” and “Women are women, men are men, you can’t change sex with the stroke of a pen” during a protest in Parliament Square across the Supreme Court in London on April 16.
HENRY NICHOLLS via AFP via Getty Images
Help and support:
The Gender Trust supports anyone affected by gender identity | 01527 894 838
Mermaids offers information, support, friendship and shared experiences for young people with gender identity issues | 0208 1234819
LGBT Youth Scotland is the largest youth and community-based organisation for LGBT people in Scotland. Text 07786 202 370
Gires provides information for trans people, their families and professionals who care for them | 01372 801554
Depend provides support, advice and information for anyone who knows, or is related to, a transsexual person in the UK
Nigel Farage has been accused of “parroting Putin” after he appeared to suggest Ukraine should give up Crimea to end its war with Russia.
The Reform UK leader told the BBC that both sides in the conflict need to make “concessions” as part of any peace deal.
Crimea has been under Russian control said it was annexed by Moscow in 2014.
In a speech in February marking the 11th anniversary of that invasion, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said: “Ukraine’s territorial integrity, sovereignty, and security are not and will not be open for any compromises.”
But appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Farage said: “The real point here is both sides have to make concessions. I’m not going to say what I think should be in those concessions. Clearly, at the heart of it is Crimea.”
Asked whether Ukraine “should be willing to compromise on Crimea”, Farage replied: “That’s at the heart of it.
“This is an attritional war, something like one million battle casualties so far. Either it goes on for year after year after year or there is a deal.”
A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Yet again Nigel Farage can’t help himself but parrot Putin talking points when touring the TV studios.
“Like Jeremy Corbyn, Nigel Farage faces both ways on Russia. Reform will always put their own self-interest ahead of our national interest. The Conservative Party will always stand with Ukraine.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has attacked the “filthy scum” responsible for a Russian missile attack which left dozens of Ukrainian civilians dead and many more injured.
The strike took place in Sumy in the north-east of the country as worshippers made their way to church to mark Palm Sunday.
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Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, said: “Launching such an attack on a major Christian holiday is absolute evil.”
It is a further blow to Donald Trump’s hopes of securing an end to the conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than three years ago.
According to Ukrainian officials, at least 31 people – including two children – were killed, with more than 84 injured, of whom 10 were children.
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In a post on X, the Ukrainian president condemned the “horrific” attack.
He said: “Russian missiles hit an ordinary city street, ordinary life – residential buildings, educational institutions, cars on the street. And that’s on the day when people go to church – Palm Sunday, the feast of the Lord’s Entry into Jerusalem.
“According to preliminary information, dozens of civilians were killed and wounded. Only filthy scum can act like this – taking the lives of ordinary people.”
Zelenskyy called on the world to “respond firmly” to the latest Russian aggression.
“The United States, Europe, everyone in the world who wants this war and these killings to end,” he said. “Russia wants exactly this kind of terror and is dragging this war out.
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“Without pressure on Russia, peace is impossible. Talks have never stopped ballistic missiles and aerial bombs. What’s needed is an attitude toward Russia that a terrorist deserves.”
Two men comfort each other as Ukrainian police psychologists provide assistance to local residents following the missile attack.
OLEG VORONENKO via AFP via Getty Images
In a later post, Zelenskyy said: “It is crucial that the world does not stay silent or indifferent. Russian strikes deserve nothing but condemnation.
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“There must be pressure on Russia to end the war and guarantee security for people. Without truly strong pressure, without sufficient support for Ukraine, Russia will continue dragging this war out.
“It’s now the second month that Putin has been ignoring the US proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire. Unfortunately, there in Moscow they are convinced they can keep killing with impunity. Action is needed to change this situation.”
UK politicians united to condemn the latest Russian atrocity.
Keir Starmer said: “I’m appalled at Russia’s horrific attacks on civilians in Sumy and my thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones at this tragic time.
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“President Zelenskyy has shown his commitment to peace. Putin must now agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without conditions.”
Shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said it was “an utterly shocking attack”.
“This is a reminder of the price innocent Ukrainians – including children – are paying for Putin’s unprovoked aggression every single day. It also underlines why there should be no ambiguity whatsoever who the aggressor is.”
Kemi Badenoch has been slammed by a senior Tory after she appeared to give the green light for Conservative councillors to do coalition deals with Reform UK.
Badenoch raised eyebrows last week when she said she would not have a problem with Conservative and Reform councillors joining forces to run town halls after the local elections on May 1.
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She said: “What I’m telling local leaders across the country [is] they have to do what is right for the people in their local area.”
On BBC1′s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg this morning, Street, the former mayor of the West Midlands, also dismissed Badenoch’s suggestion.
He said: “It’s not my decision in any way, but my feeling on it is that we should have nothing to do with alliances with them, just as Kemi has said about the national situation.
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“We’ve got to put in front of voters the choice – a moderate, centre-right Conservative Party against a populist party that do not have a policy answer to any of the big questions.”
On the same programme, shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith backed his leader.
He said: “There’s always been, after elections, for local councillors themselves to decide how they run the local council. If that is needed, then historically people have done deals on a local level with all sorts of groups.
“I think the Lib Dems are quite extremist – whenever they get into power they want four-day weeks and veganism – but no one should take that off the table because those are decisions for local councillors.”
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He added: “I think Kemi is reflecting the reality that we have local democracy and if people stand for local councils and they want to do the best for their communities, then they will have to, in light of how people have voted, work out what the right combination is.”
However, they won’t be getting them from the questions asked by reporters like Cara Castronuova, who works for Lindell TV, a news network created by My Pillow big cheese Mike Lindell.
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Castronuova, a former boxer, became the subject of much social media mockery on Friday when she asked a question at the White House’s press briefing that seemed like it could have been composed by press secretary Karoline Leavitt herself.
“Will you guys also consider releasing the president’s fitness plan? He actually looks healthier than ever before — healthier than he did eight years ago, and I’m sure everybody in this room could agree,” Castronuova asked. “Is he working out with Bobby Kennedy and eating less McDonald’s?”
Leavitt was obviously happy to end the press gathering with a softball question like that.
“I can confirm the president is in very good shape, as you see on a near daily basis here,” she said.
REPORTER: President Trump looks healthier than ever before. I’m sure everybody in this room could agree. Is he working out with Bobby Kennedy and is he eating less McDonald’s?
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REPORTER: President Trump looks healthier than ever before. I’m sure everybody in this room could agree. Is he working out with Bobby Kennedy and is he eating less McDonald’s?
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The great leader is the most handsome man in the galaxy, is it his amazing genes or eating at McDonald’s? Brought to you by McDonald’s, you’re lovin’ it or else
— Aleksandar Djokic (Александар Джокич) (@polidemitolog) April 11, 2025
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The great leader is the most handsome man in the galaxy, is it his amazing genes or eating at McDonald’s? Brought to you by McDonald’s, you’re lovin’ it or else
— Aleksandar Djokic (Александар Джокич) (@polidemitolog) April 11, 2025
— The Nicest Boy on this Website and App (@bikivindaloo) April 11, 2025
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How much do you want to bet Americans are told by his doctor that “Trump could run a 5k today, in scorching conditions of 110 degrees, and win” if he chose to.
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How much do you want to bet Americans are told by his doctor that “Trump could run a 5k today, in scorching conditions of 110 degrees, and win” if he chose to.
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MPs will return to Westminster on Saturday to vote on emergency government plans to save British Steel which could see it brought into public ownership.
In a highly unusual move, parliament has been recalled from its Easter recess as Keir Starmer warned the company’s future was “in the balance” unless the government acts.
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Ministers fear that the UK’s ability to produce its own steel will end forever if the loss-making plant at Scunthorpe is allowed to close down.
Negotiations between the government and British Steel’s Chinese owners Jingye on a rescue package broke down, forcing ministers to consider nationalisation.
The Steel Industry (Special Measures) Bill is expected to be passed by both the Commons and the Lords on Saturday.
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It will give business secretary Jonathan Reynolds the power to direct the company’s board and workforce, while ensuring it is able to order the raw materials needed to keep the plant’s vital blast furnaces running.
Ministers also want to ensure the plant’s 3,500 employees are not made redundant.
In a Downing Street statement on Friday evening, Starmer said: “As prime minister, I will always act in the national interest to protect British jobs and British workers.
“This afternoon, the future of British steel hangs in the balance. Jobs, investment, growth – our economic and national security are all on the line.”
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The PM added: “As I have said, we will keep all options on the table.
“Our future is in our hands. This government will not sit back and just hope. We will act to secure Britain’s future with British steel: made in Britain, in the national interest.”
Starmer also insisted that the plant’s cashflow problems are longstanding and not directly related to Donald Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on all steel imports into the US.
A No.10 source said: “We’re in a new era and the quicker people stop clinging to the old ways the better.
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“It’s not feasible to have critical infrastructure in the hands of companies that are willing to run them down.”
One steel industry insider told HuffPost UK it was “squeaky bum time” for the future of the plant, meaning the government had little option but to act.
But Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said Labour had “landed themselves in a steel crisis entirely of their own making”
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She said: “The union-led Labour government have bungled the negotiations, insisting on a Scunthorpe-only deal that the company has deemed unviable.
“Keir Starmer should have seen this coming. But instead of addressing it earlier in the week when parliament was sitting, their incompetence has led to a last-minute recall of parliament.”
Rishi Sunak has been accused of giving “rewards for failure” after he handed out gongs to senior Tories in his resignation honours list.
Michael Gove, Mark Harper and Alister Jack are among the former cabinet ministers given seats for life in the House of Lords by the former prime minister.
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He also awarded knighthoods to James Cleverly, Jeremy Hunt, Grant Shapps, Mel Stride and Andrew Mitchell.
In all, Sunak – who led the Conservatives to a landslide general election defeat last year – gave honours to 11 current and former Tory MPs, 18 former Tory advisers, two Tory councillors and the party’s former chief executive.
He also awarded a knighthood to former England cricketer James Anderson and the filmmaker Matthew Vaughn.
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Lib Dem deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: “These political nominations look like an ID parade of political flunkies whose fingerprint of failure are still felt on family finances.
“They are rewards for the failure of a dreadful Conservative government that was rightly kicked out of office.
“Millions of hard working families were fed up after years of Conservative chaos culminating in a cost of living crisis, and public services on their knees.
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“The fact that Rishi Sunak has dished out honours to his mates after all the damage they did is yet more proof of how out of touch the Conservatives still are.”
Darren Hughes, chief executive of the Electoral Reform Society, said: “Trust in our politics has slumped to record lows in recent years. Yet today the public is again witnessing the spectacle of a former prime minster stuffing even more friends and allies into the already ludicrously bloated House of Lords – handing each one a job for life in parliament.
“This business-as-usual ‘jobs for mates’ approach at Westminster will do nothing to arrest that alarming collapse in public trust.”
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The reaction was no more positive on social media.
All the amazing, tireless and often unappreciated public servants and national heroes that Prime Ministers meet on a daily basis, and Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours and peerages list looks like this:
18 x former Tory advisers 11 x Tory and former Tory MPs 2 x Tory councillors…
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All the amazing, tireless and often unappreciated public servants and national heroes that Prime Ministers meet on a daily basis, and Rishi Sunak’s resignation honours and peerages list looks like this:
18 x former Tory advisers 11 x Tory and former Tory MPs 2 x Tory councillors…
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Keir Starmer was cornered by a journalist today over his lack of contact with Donald Trump since the US president unveiled his new trade tariffs.
The president hit the UK with a baseline 10% tax on imports heading into the US on April 2.
That came on top of his 25% global levy on cars, steel and aluminium products.
While the 10% tax was much less than many other trading partners – the EU was slapped with a 20% tariff – it was still more than some, such as Russia, who got away without any new tariffs at all.
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Then Trump U-turned this week and announced most tariffs would be reduced to 10%, aside from China – taking away any trade advantage the president had handed to the UK had over competitors altogether.
So ITV News’ Carl Dinnen asked the prime minister today in Doncaster: “Have you spoken to President Trump since he put a 10% tariffs on all goods coming from here to the United States?”
Starmer replied: “My team are in contact with the President’s team every day.”
“So you haven’t spoken to him?” Dinnen pushed.
The PM hit back: “Well, I’ve spoken to him frequently both on the phone and I’ve met him a number of times.”
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The reporter said: “Yeah but not since he put the tariffs on.”
Starmer replied: “The teams are discussing every day, and seeking to do what we can to mitigate the tariffs –”
Dinnen cut in: “With respect prime minister, it feels like he’s not taking your calls. Is that what’s happening?”
The prime minister pushed back: “No, not at all, you have to understand that the UK and the US – our teams talk all of the time, whether that’s on defence, on security, on intelligence, and on trade, on a deal.
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“That is constantly going on. That’s what you would expect of two very close allies. But at the same time, I’m clear this is a change that, in my view, isn’t temporary, and therefore we’ve got to do the hard graft of making sure we are turbocharging our own economy.”
He listed the work he’s been focused on in the UK and his conversations with other world leaders to “lower trade barriers”.
“My focus every day has to be on what’s in the national interest in the United Kingdom,” the prime minister said.
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Starmer has been phoning plenty of other world leaders since Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement on April 2.
That includes the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman, the prime minister of Singapore Lawrence Wong, the prime minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni and the prime minister of Australia Anthony Albanese.
He has also spoken to President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and leader of the German Christian Democratic Union party Friedrich Merz.
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But, despite Trump’s apparent silence towards the UK, Starmer has avoided criticising the president directly, only admitting that he is “disappointed” by the decision.
The UK is pushing to secure a trade deal with the States, and hoping it could mean Britain secures some tariff exemptions, too.
‘With respect prime minister, it feels like Trump’s not taking your calls…’@carldinnen grills Starmer on whether he’s spoken to Donald Trump since he put 10% tariffs on the UK
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‘With respect prime minister, it feels like Trump’s not taking your calls…’@carldinnen grills Starmer on whether he’s spoken to Donald Trump since he put 10% tariffs on the UK
Donald Trump announced global tariffs on foreign goods going into the US on April 2.
The UK was hit with only the “base rate” 10% tax on its imports, but it came on top of the global levy of 25% on cars and steel products.
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Still, the Labour government have avoided publicly condemning the dramatic move from the White House.
Starmer is hoping to secure a trade deal with the US before May 1, which – ideally – would see the UK secure exemptions to the tariffs in exchange for some British concessions.
Speaking on Wednesday, ITV News’ Robert Peston asked the prime minister just what he wanted out of the tariff chaos.
He said: “Do we have to have 10% forever, you know, you’re obviously keen to get the 25% on cars and steel down, but is the 10% permanent?”
“Look, I don’t know,” Starmer replied.
“We are negotiating and we hope to improve the situation, but what I mean by this is that simply thinking that any change in the rates or any deals is going to be enough, to my mind is wrong.
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“Because just as we’ve done with defence and security, where we’ve recognised it’s a changing world, we’ve got to step up and act differently.
“In that case with defence spend, coordinating better across Europe, so too with trade and the economy.”
While emphasising this is not a “passing phase” the world is going through, he also refused to call on Trump to reduce the 104% levy on China.
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He said: “I’m not going to engage in diplomacy through the media, but I mean I’ve been clear that throughout that a trade war is in nobody’s interest.”
Peston tried again, and asked: “For America, this looks like a Liz Truss-style financial crisis.
“The price that America pays to borrow is soaring and we’ve been infected.
“I don’t know if you’ve been told this, but the government’s borrowing costs are now the highest since 1998. He’s harming us. Surely you’ve got to say to him, ‘stop, change course’.”
But Starmer still refused to make any public statement against Trump’s economic policy.
He also told ITV News he would not follow Truss’s example of “putting to one side rules and institutions, checks and balances” by changing the government’s own fiscal rules.
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When Labour got into office, chancellor Rachel Reeves promised she would not borrow for day-to-day spending.
Despite the growing pressure on the struggling British economy, he said these are still “ironclad” ideas.
He added: “Those fiscal rules are foundational to the stability that we brought to our economy, so we go ahead in that calm way, obviously we’re talking to the US to see what we can do to mitigate the situation.”
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Starmer said it was important to be “calm” and “pragmatic”, focus on “turbocharging” the UK economy and “talking to other world leaders about lowering trade barriers across the world”.
He rejected any suggestion the public spending may have to be cut again or taxes may have to rise in the autumn as a result of the struggling markets.
“I don’t accept the proposition that it’s inevitable things will happen in six months’ time,” the PM said.
They ransacked federal agencies and axed jobs together, but US President Donald Trump’s expanding tariffs are apparently too much for even right-hand man Elon Musk.
So much so that Musk privately appealed to Trump to reverse the market-tanking measures in an “attempted intervention,” The Washington Post reported on Monday, citing people familiar with the matter.
But Musk’s alleged entreaty apparently didn’t work because Trump continued to saber-rattle on the trade war front, threatening to tack on 50% tariffs for Chinese goods.
Musk has expressed misgivings about the sweeping tariffs on his X platform but aimed his criticism at the likes of Trump adviser Peter Navarro, who is behind the strategy.
The Post dubbed Musk’s disagreement with the president as their “highest-profile disagreement” since Trump named him the leader of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.
On Monday, Musk struck a somewhat conciliatory tone on the social platform he owns. He shared a post from a US trade rep that supported the “historic” tariffs and listed “unfair” trade practices of exporters. “Good points,” Musk wrote.
