KEIR GIVEN SOME HOME TRUTHS BY DONALD

Trump: Use Army to tackle migrant crisis and step up drilling in the North Sea

- By Martyn Brown Political Editor

KEIR Starmer was humiliated last night as Donald Trump told him to use troops to halt small boat crossings, before a migration crisis destroys the UK "from within".

The visiting US president fired off a barrage of home truths, telling the Prime Minister to step up drilling for oil in the North Sea and declaring that he "disagreed" with the PM's plan to recognise a Palestinian state.

Mr Trump's blunt assessment that Sir Keir must do "whatever it takes" to tackle illegal arrivals came as they met on the second day of his historic state visit. He also took an apparent swipe at the "traditions of British liberty". Mr Trump's typically robust interventions came as the pair wrapped up the two-day visit by hailing the “unbreakable bond” between the UK and the US.

Sir Keir said it was a “great day for the special relationship” as the two leaders met business chiefs at Chequers, the Prime Minister's Buckinghamshire country retreat.

The PM said that the UK-US relationship was “the very foundation of our security, our freedom and our prosperity”.

But he was left squirming as questions turned to other matters, including the tackling of illegal immigration.

More than 31,000 migrants have crossed the Channel on small boats this year.

Almost 10,000 have reached Britain since the PM’s “one in, one out” deal with France was announced earlier this summer.

In the leaders’ joint press conference at Chequers, Mr Trump was asked whether he had any advice for Sir Keir about tackling illegal migration following his own efforts in the US.

The president said: “What I saw happening, with millions of people pouring into our country, I couldn’t stand to watch it, and we've done a great job.”