Keir Starmer's 39 foreign trips cost British taxpayers £4.2m after less than two years in office

New figures have suggested Sir Keir Starmer's foreign visits have cost taxpayers £4.2million after less than two years in Downing Street.

According to Cabinet Office data, in the final three months of 2025 alone the Prime Minister went on eight international visits at a cost to the public purse of £1.4million.

Some of the eyewatering expenditures include Sir Keir's trade mission to India, on a commercial flight, which cost £341,680 while his visit to the G20 world leaders' gathering in South Africa cost £368,040.

TaxPayers' Alliance spokesman William Yarwood said: "Taxpayers are getting tired of the Prime Minister's rank hypocrisy, particularly on the question of foreign travel.

"Starmer was judge, jury and executioner on the matter of Tory travels yet is more than happy to max out the credit card for his own foreign excursions. The Prime Minister needs to start practising in power what he preached in opposition."

A Government spokesman said: "All PM travel is done with consideration to security requirements and value for taxpayers, and is central to rebuilding Britain's global influence and keeping people safe through stronger alliances.

"These trips have helped secure billions in investment for the UK and tens of thousands of jobs, while strengthening our security, protecting British interests overseas and delivering real benefits for people at home."

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Reform UK calls for petrol VAT to be slashed after Iran war price rises

Robert Jenrick will call on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to halve VAT on petrol for three months in the face of rising oil prices caused by the Iran war.

Reform UK said the move would reduce pump prices by 12p a litre for petrol and 14p a litre for diesel, at a cost to the taxpayer of £1.5billion.

Since the outbreak of the Iran war, prices have increased by around 15p a litre for petrol and 30p a litre for diesel.

Mr Jenrick, Reform’s economic spokesman, is expected to make the call on a visit to a petrol station in Dover, where he will offer drivers 5p off fuel.

The visit follows a similar stunt by party leader Nigel Farage earlier this month as part of Reform’s campaign against the Government’s plan to reverse the temporary 5p cut to fuel duty introduced after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

WATCH: 'Far-fetched' to suggest McSweeney phone theft linked to Mandelson files, says Sir Keir Starmer

Here's what's happening today in Westminster and beyond

Good morning from all of us on the GB News Politics Team. Here's what's happening today in Westminster and beyond:

Sir Keir Starmer is in Helsinki for a Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) conference, with Russia's war on Ukraine on the table, while Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is in France for a G7 meeting for talks about the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

This morning, the Prime Minister said it is "a little bit far-fetched" to suggest the theft of his former chief of staff Morgan McSweeney’s phone was in any way linked to the release of files on Lord Peter Mandelson.

Shabana Mahmood's new measures on migration will take effect today as part of Labour's push to crack down on asylum claims. GB News Assistant News Editor Jack Walters has the full write up here.

Closer to home, we've got a barrage of election launches today, with Reform UK officially starting their local campaign with a rally in Sunderland tonight.

North of the border, the SNP, Scottish Conservatives and Scottish Labour will all getting their campaigns underway this morning for the Holyrood election.

Keeping it local, Labour is set to axe 800 councillors and shut down 43 councils across England within the next two years. Our reporter Dan McDonald has the full story here.

In the Commons today, there'll be debates on transport accessibility for disabled people and support for Gurkha veterans, while long serving Tory MP David Davis has the adjournment debate on Cheshire Police’s conduct over the Lucy Letby case.

Here on GB News, we'll be joined by Defence Minister Al Carns, Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith and Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Helen Morgan.