Work begins by PM to put Britain back on world stage

Security and trade deals with Germany and India on agenda

- DAVID MADDOX

Sir Keir Starmer’s government is pressing ahead with plans to reset Britain’s global relations and repair the harms of Brexit, announcing a landmark security pact with Germany and the reopening of trade and defence talks with India.

Foreign secretary David Lammy is in Delhi to revive negotiations that foundered under the Tories, while Rachel Reeves is heading to Brazil for her first G20 summit as chancellor. And yesterday, defence secretary John Healey signed a “joint defence declaration” in Berlin, hailing it as a step towards a “deep new relationship” between Britain and Germany.

But critics have warned that the prime minister needs to go much further and use the deal with Germany as a springboard for the UK to integrate its military with EU forces. Mr Healey said the agreement shows that the government is “getting on with the job” and “resetting our relationships” with Britain’s European allies.