A senior government source says the PM is "pushing the system" to get to a stronger position on spending, but in recent days it's suggested the Treasury's still asking about the spending consequences. The dilemma is obvious: public money is tight as a drum, and Downing Street doesn't want to take cash from the NHS or other priorities at home.

As the Prime Minister heads to Washington for difficult talks, a former Trump official advises Starmer to make sure he takes him a good present

Macron beats Starmer in race to meet Trump at White House despite 'Special Relationship' and US-EU rifts - The French leader has warned Trump not to be ‘weak’ in talks with Putin

John Kerry says says chances ‘of making peace in Ukraine are real’ as PM is expected to announce new military aid for Ukraine

The last time Keir Starmer crossed the Atlantic to meet Donald Trump the British prime minister needed to show he could avoid a personality clash with the once and future president. The stakes are considerably higher now.

Sir Keir Starmer will this week go to Washington to try to help broker a just peace deal for Ukraine with a capricious president who in just a week has unwound a consensus that was born from the ashes of the Second World War and had endured for 70 years.

President Donald Trump on Monday called his meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron an "important step" toward achieving permanent peace between Russia and Ukraine soon.

Sir Keir Starmer will set out the timeline for a major defence spending boost and give Donald Trump an invitation for a state visit when he visits Washington next week, it has emerged. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

It's a big week for Sir Keir Starmer as he prepares to head off to the White House for his first meeting with Donald Trump as president. It's a high stakes trip for the PM at a moment of growing division between the US and Europe.