Fresh from his time at the UN General Assembly in New York, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s world tour now takes him to London. There he will be primed to give some political advice to his beleaguered counterpart, Keir Starmer.
Australia is enjoying a moment in the sun in the United Kingdom. Some have noted an “Australianisation” of British politics. “Stop the boats” is the most high-profile instance of policy transfer – on that occasion from Australia’s Tony Abbott to former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak. So those surrounding Starmer will no doubt be interested in Albanese’s destruction of the Coalition in May’s federal election. Starmer might also share some pointers on upwardly managing US President Donald Trump.
The meeting of the two prime ministers takes place against a backdrop of a double challenge facing centre-left parties and liberal democracies more broadly. That challenge is to bring the United States back into the anti-Russian camp, while responding effectively to the surge in support for illiberal democracy and an energised far right within their own electorates.
