Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was forced to rip up his agenda and hold an emergency news conference in Downing Street on Monday, 19 January 2026, following a dramatic weekend of transatlantic tensions.
Diplomatic Crisis Over Greenland Ambitions
The sudden move was triggered by a tariff assault from US President Donald Trump targeting the United Kingdom and Europe. This aggressive trade action is reported to have been sparked by the fallout from a renewed American ambition to purchase Greenland.
In a special episode of the Politics at Sam and Anne's podcast, analysts Sam and Anne dissected the Prime Minister's limited options. From their bases in London and Davos, they assessed whether Sir Keir should pursue a path of retaliation or seek a delicate diplomatic solution to navigate the newly choppy waters in the UK-US relationship.
Domestic Storm: Hillsborough Law Pulled
Back in Westminster, a separate political storm was brewing. The government has pulled the proposed Hillsborough law from the legislative agenda. This follows a fierce battle with campaigners and families who argued the bill had been significantly "watered down" from its original intent to ensure parity of legal representation for victims in inquests.
Sam provided the latest from the Commons on this sensitive row, which has caused significant dismay among long-standing campaigners for justice.
Defection Shakes Tory Ranks
Adding to a tumultuous political week, a late-night move by MP Andrew Rossindell to defect from the Conservatives to the Reform party has sent shockwaves through Westminster. This defection raises immediate questions about potential further shifts in parliamentary allegiance and the stability of the political landscape.
The combined pressure of an international trade crisis, a major domestic policy reversal, and internal party instability presents a formidable triple challenge for Sir Keir Starmer's government at the start of 2026.
