Overview
- Keir Starmer flew to Washington with a letter from the King inviting President Trump to a rare second state visit, followed by a UK‑US trade deal hailed by the government in May.
- Trump’s second full state visit to Britain went ahead in September, featuring a royal welcome and a technology and investment agreement.
- Images highlighted awkward moments for Starmer on the world stage, including him picking up papers after Trump dropped them at the G7.
- At home, the government reversed course on policies such as the winter fuel allowance and welfare cuts, while both Labour and the Conservatives suffered heavy local election losses in May.
- The year’s domestic turbulence included Angela Rayner’s resignation over underpaid stamp duty and Reform UK’s advance, marked by a knife‑edge by‑election win and high‑profile Tory defections.