A STORMY YEAR FOR POLITICS IN THE UK

PRESS ASSOCIATION DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR SOPHIE WINGATE takes a look back at another tempestuous year in UK politics

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SIR Keir Starmer grappled with Labour dissent, global volatility and a splintering of the political landscape in another stormy year in UK politics.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House set the geopolitical tone, unleashing tariffs that dampened global markets and hit the UK economy.

The Prime Minister got off to a strong start with the US president, wooing him with an invitation from the King for a second UK state visit when they met in the Oval Office.

That close relationship helped Sir Keir clinch an agreement for relief from Mr Trump's tariffs which he has described as “effectively the best deal with the US that any country has got”.

He has also listed a “reset” with the European Union, closer cooperation with France on small boats, a trade deal with India and sales of warships to Norway and fighter jets to Turkey among his key achievements of 2025.

Sir Keir continued to thrive on the world stage, with Britain taking a leading role in the “coalition of the willing” pro-Ukraine alliance amid uncertainty over Mr Trump’s commitment to the war-torn nation.

The year was ending with those doubts heightened as Washington sought to broker a truce on terms more favourable to Russia, and with the American leader castigating EU allies as “weak” and failing to “produce” an end to the grinding conflict.

At home, as Labour's polling dwindled, Sir Keir faced struggles inside his party.

He scaled back reforms to curb the soaring welfare bill to avert a backbench rebellion in the summer, following a U-turn on plans to cut winter fuel payments for pensioners in the wake of an enduring backlash.