Keir Starmer and Donald Trump shared a 45-minute phone call tonight as they spoke for the first time since the inauguration. The leaders discussed the importance of "close and warm ties" between the UK and the US and agreed "to meet soon", No10 said. The talks came hours after the US President gave an unexpectedly warm endorsement of Mr Starmer, saying "I like him a lot" and he's done "a very good job thus far". “They agreed to meet soon and looked forward to further discussions then.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump agreed to meet soon on a call on Sunday when they also spoke about the royal family and of their two countries "warm ties", according to statement from Downing Street. "The two leaders stressed the importance of the close and warm ties between the UK and the U.S., and the president spoke of his respect and affection for the royal family," the statement from Starmer's Downing Street office said.

The PM and Trump spoke for around 45 minutes, covering trade, the economy and Britain’s plan to spark a bonfire of growth-impeding red tape. “They agreed to meet soon and looked forward to further discussions then.”The president also offered his condolences to Sir Keir following the death of his brother. Hours before the call Trump gave the PM a surprise boost as he declared the Labour leader has done a “very good job thus far”. The president confessed to having a “very good relationship” with Sir Keir, despite calls from his top ally and tech billionaire Elon Musk for the PM to resign.