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Keir Starmer writes to Boris Johnson asking him to urge Donald Trump to 'respect human rights' amid George Floyd protests

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer recording a piece to camera outside his home in north London: PA
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer recording a piece to camera outside his home in north London: PA

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has written to Boris Johnson asking him to urge Donald Trump to "respect human rights" following the death of George Floyd.

Sir Keir said the United Kingdom had a “moral obligation” to speak out and that the death of George Floyd had “justifiably prompted anger”.

He wrote: "In the House of Commons yesterday, I raised my shock and anger at the killing of George Floyd and the response of US authorities to the peaceful protests.

"This has shone a spotlight on the racism, discrimination and injustice experienced by those from black and minority ethnic communities in the US and across the world.

President Donald Trump (AP)
President Donald Trump (AP)

"I welcome that you shared some of the concerns I raised with you and want to use this opportunity to explore what the British government is doing to urge the United States and President Trump to respect human rights and the fundamental democratic right to peaceful protest.

"I am sure that you share my strongly held belief that the UK has a moral obligation to speak out in defence of these values, no matter where in the world they are challenged."

He said the UK "must be clear in showing that we understand this frustration and that we are ready to stand together with those who seek to tackle the injustice and inequality that remains within all our societies".

He also asked a series of questions including whether the UK has raised any concerns with the US yet and what steps the government was taking to reassure black communities in the UK.

Tottenham Labour MP David Lammy tweeted: “Boris Johnson has a moral obligation to urge Donald Trump to respect human rights and the fundamental democratic right to peaceful protest.”

During yesterday's Downing Street daily briefing, Boris Johnson said his message to Donald Trump is that "racism and racist violence has no place in our society" when questioned by journalists.

He said: “We mourn George Floyd and I was appalled and sickened to see what happened to him.

"My message to President Trump, to everybody in the United States, from the UK is that I don’t think that racism – and it’s an opinion I’m sure shared by the overwhelming majority of people around the world – racism and racist violence has no place in our society.”

Boris Johnson said he was
Boris Johnson said he was

The Prime Minister made the comments just a few hours after Sir Keir called on him during Prime Minister's Questions to speak to President Trump about Mr Floyd’s death.​

Mr Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, was filmed gasping and pleading “I can’t breathe” as a white police officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes.

Thousands of people have been marching as worldwide outrage continues to grow over the death of Mr Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis last week.

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