Downing Street has confirmed that a meeting between U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is unlikely to occur before the upcoming U.S. election, set for 5 November. With just 12 days remaining until Americans head to the polls, No 10 has acknowledged that time is running out for such a meeting to take place.
Starmer previously expressed a desire to meet both U.S. presidential candidates during a visit to New York in September, where he met with former President Donald Trump. The UK prime minister was in the U.S. at the time for the UN General Assembly, and Starmer indicated that meeting with both candidates would be “very good” ahead of election day.
However, with Starmer currently attending a Commonwealth summit in Samoa and the U.S. election fast approaching, it has become clear that a meeting with Kamala Harris is unlikely to be scheduled in time.
Starmer’s interactions with U.S. political figures have garnered attention as the UK prepares for its own future political shifts. While meeting both U.S. presidential candidates before the election would have been significant for Starmer, the logistical challenges now seem to have made it impractical.
The UK will continue to closely follow the outcome of the U.S. election, as its results could influence international relations and future political engagements.