NEW: @Keir_Starmer has made his first major intervention since stepping down as prime minister

He urges Europe and Britain not to be “caught asleep” again in the face of rising security challenges, calls for a “common security framework” between the EU and the UK, and warns the Trump presidency is not an “aberration” but a “permanent change”

Starmer says:

“A stronger Europe is vital and the UK must be at the heart of it. Europe has twice been caught asleep - failing to anticipate and prepare for predictable events.

"First when Russia’s attack on Ukraine exposed long-standing European weaknesses on defence and security; and second when President Trump made clear, once and for all, that the US will no longer bankroll our European security. We have to catch up.

“I will say here what I have said to European leaders. This is about responding to a permanent change of affairs, not an aberration of the Trump Presidency. Things will not go back to the way they were before.

“That doesn’t mean the US relationship is no longer important. On the contrary, the military, security and intelligence alliance is far too strong for that. But it does mean enabling Europe to take on far more responsibility for its own defence and security.

“Increased defence spending is a part of that, but the challenge goes far beyond that. We need to build up pan-European co-operation and co-ordination on defence and security - a common security framework as much as a common market. The EU is changing to respond to that, but it cannot be the EU alone when Europe’s periphery is core to its defence.

“Britain must be central to that project. We are one of two nuclear powers. We are a leading NATO member. We have a viable next generation fighter jet programme. And we are pledged to work alongside European allies to guarantee security in Ukraine.

"Ireland and the UK stand side by side in the coalition of the willing and with Ukraine, working together to guarantee and shape the security of our continent. I hope and believe that Britain’s relationship with its friends and allies can and should be strengthened by this urgent and common security project.”

He spoke in Dublin after meeting Taoiseach Micheal Martin and being given an award by the British Irish Chamber of Commerce