Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged that a meeting with Kamala Harris before the US presidential election is unlikely. The UK Prime Minister had aimed to build a personal rapport with the Democratic candidate before her White House bid.
However, despite efforts, the meeting seems improbable with less than two weeks until the November 5 election.
Previously, Sir Keir met with Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and the two shared a dinner in New York last month. At the time, he expressed hope for a similar meeting with Harris, but “usual diary challenges” prevented it.
Downing Street now concedes that the meeting with Harris is not expected to happen before the election. This setback is significant for Starmer, who places high importance on cultivating personal relationships in international politics.
Reflecting on his meeting with Trump, Starmer emphasized, “I’m a great believer in personal relations on the international stage. It’s crucial to know your counterparts personally, to engage face to face.”
Meanwhile, Starmer faces criticism over the involvement of Labour officials in Kamala Harris’s campaign. Trump’s team has filed a complaint with US electoral authorities, alleging “foreign interference” related to Labour’s role in advising Harris.
The controversy includes Morgan McSweeney, Starmer’s chief of staff, who attended the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. Labour covered McSweeney’s travel expenses, though the party maintains that he did not advise Harris. While in Chicago, he reportedly had informal talks with members of Harris’s campaign.
Additionally, other Labour officials, including Matthew Doyle and John Lehal, were present at the convention. Up to 100 party members also planned to volunteer for Harris’s campaign in key swing states, participating in their personal time and staying with other volunteers.
Labour has defended the arrangement, describing it as “standard and fully compliant with rules” and emphasizing that it is a long-standing practice. Starmer remains confident that the situation will not impact his relationship with Trump.
