Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer answers questions during a press conference on Aug. 1, 2024. Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer answers questions during a press conference on Aug. 1, 2024. Henry Nicholls—AFP/ Contributor It was a moment that will remain etched in British minds.

Although MPs comfortably passed the government’s Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments Bill by 336 votes to 242, dozens of Labour backbenchers thumbed their nose at the prime minister. Some 47 voted against the legislation, with a further 14 abstaining.

Starmer and Macron will hold a bilateral summit today - with a deal aimed at deterring migrants from crossing the Channel in small boats from France expected to top the agenda.

The Prime Minister cuts a dash on the international stage, but at home seems detached from his own administration

The effect of the policy is to drag millions of workers into higher tax bands when their pay goes up, raising tens of billions of pounds for the Treasury in the process. But critics say this is a stealth tax, a sneaky way of giving the chancellor more money to spend without having to increase the rate of income tax or National Insurance.

Sir Keir Starmer has accepted an invitation to visit President Donald Trump during his expected trip to Scotland this month. Details, including a specific date, were still being finalised, said the source,