London: Sir Keir Starmer has all but dumped plans for his first visit to Australia as British prime minister as he tries to arrest his political fortunes against a backdrop of plunging approval ratings and a damaging “freebies” scandal. Advanced work was underway in Canberra to host Starmer following the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Tonga in two weeks’ time but several diplomatic sources have told this masthead the visit was unlikely to go ahead because of his government’s domestic pressures. Keir Starmer and Anthony Albanese chat during the Australian prime minister’s visit to London in May 2023.
Credit: Instagram Since gaining power after 14 years in opposition, Labour has faced numerous headaches, including over cuts to winter fuel payments for pensioners and a row over donations. Starmer, attempting to restore order to his administration in the week he marks 100 days in office, was forced into a massive shake-up of his troubled team at the weekend, sacking Sue Gray, his controversial chief of staff, following weeks of internal criticism of her performance and a power struggle behind the scenes. Downing Street confirmed Starmer would still join King Charles and more than 50 other Commonwealth leaders – including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese – from October 21 in Samoa for CHOGM.
The summit is increasingly viewed by the UK as a critical vehicle to help combat Chinese influence on its former colonies and the so-called Global South, a term descr.