Earlier on Thursday, Germany and the UK signed a treaty that pledged to “reinforce Euro-Atlantic security”, and could also free up school exchange visits and passport e-gates.

The deal – to be known as the Kensington Treaty – was signed at the V&A museum in London, and was also signed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his German counterpart Johann Wadephul.

Sir Keir described it as “evidence of the closeness of our relationship as it stands today” as well as a “statement of intent, a statement of our ambition to work ever more closely together”.

The document details the UK and German agreement to “reinforce Euro-Atlantic security and ensure effective deterrence against potential aggressors” through their defence forces, as well as looking to improving defence co-operation in the future. It also reaffirms support for Nato and Nato allies.

Sir Keir Starmer said he would not be “deflected” by Labour rebels after he stripped the whip from several MPs.

The Prime Minister suspended the whip from Rachael Maskell, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Brian Leishman and Chris Hinchliff.

The four MPs all voted against the Government over the welfare reform legislation, but party sources said the decision to suspend the whip was taken as a result of persistent breaches of discipline rather than a single rebellion.

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Sir Keir Starmer said he was “very grateful” to Chancellor Friedrich Merz for planned changes to German law to criminalise facilitating the smuggling of migrants to the UK.

The Prime Minister said: “Last week, we obviously dealt with what’s happening in the north of France in relation to maritime tactics and our ability to return people through the returns agreement that we agreed last week to France.

“But for a long time, I’ve been very concerned about the fact that engines, in particular, but component parts of the boats that are being used are travelling through and being stored in Germany, but they can’t be seized because the law didn’t accommodate for a country which had left the EU and therefore needed to be amended.

“And I am very grateful for the chancellor, and we’ve discussed this at great length on a number of occasions, he’s now going to change the law, introduce the necessary legislation, so that we can intervene in that place.”

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he wanted to tackle illegal immigration with co-operation between the UK, Germany and France.

He said via a translator: “Our objective is to closely co-operate with the United Kingdom.

“The co-operation between the United Kingdom and France that was agreed last week has to be complemented by an agreement that we aim to achieve, between the three of us – UK, Germany, France.

“We want to stand up and trust to and drastically reduce illegal migration in Europe.

“We are on a good path, but we haven’t reached the target yet.”

Mr Merz said he had taken steps to reduce the number of migrants in Germany but he did not want to “damage” the Schengen area or single market and wanted to focus on better European regulations to protect the bloc’s external border.

Starmer says today’s treaty is a ‘work plan’ that can be taken up right away.

He insists defence plan isn’t just a spending issue to be seen in isolation but an opportunity for cooperation and growth.

He admits that under the treaty there is “longer term work as well”.

KS says he was forced to sack numerous Labour MPs last night despite accusations he appears weak.

The PM had it pointed out that Tony Blair didn’t sack Labour MPs after a similarly large rebellion.

“We have to deal with people who repeatedly break the whip. This is about what we are doing for the country.”

Keir Starmer says western allies have been working for weeks to get Trump to the position on Russia he is today.

He is working with Germany and other members of the coalition of the willing.

“I think this shows the strength of Germany France and the UK working closely together but also with the US”

Merz says it’s ‘quite amazing’ that the UK and Germany has never had a friendship treaty before.

“this is truly an historic day and I feel honoured to be here as German Chancellor today. We don’t do it for the benefit of ourselves but for our people.”

Merz says today’s Deal will create new economic growth with UK and DE countries “leveraging new growth”.

He says he wants to improve mobility of young people and this area has been the most “painful” element of Brexit

Friedrich Merz says his visit shows UK France and Germany are converging on foreign policy, economic policy, migration policy.

Germany chancellor announces new chapter of UK-German relations.

Says he ‘personally deplores’ decision by Britain to leave the EU.

He says he wants to secure freedom and prosperity for both countries’ peoples.

He says the treaty – the V&A museum – is symbolic given the marriage of Queen Victoria and German Prince Albert. He says their marriage lasted a lifetime and was a happy one.

He hopes it bodes well for today’s treaty.

Keir Starmer speaks at Airbus, talking about joint technical endeavours between the UK and Germany.

He says shared challenges are met with shared opportunities.

He cites his treaty with Germany as “genuinely unprecedented”. The first major bilateral treaty between the UK and Germany.

He thanks Merz for his “leadership” on tackling migration, with Germany cracking down on the small boats being transported through the country to the French coastline.

The PM is about to emerge alongside the German Chancellor to boast about his new cooperation treaty covering defence, migration and travel.

Car maker Jaguar Land Rover has said it is to axe up to 500 management jobs in the UK through a voluntary redundancy programme.

Britain’s jobless rate has struck its highest level for four years as workers also faced another slowdown in wage growth, official figures have shown.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of UK unemployment increased to 4.7% in the three months to May, from 4.6% in three months to April.

It said this marked the highest level since June 2021.

Meanwhile, average earnings growth, excluding bonuses, slowed to 5% in the period to May to its lowest level for almost three years.

The Prime Minister and German Chancellor will discuss plans to deliver their new “Deep Precision Strike” capability in the next decade.

These are missiles with a range of 2,000 km.

Keir Starmer and the German Chancellor will speak at a press conference later. But Sir Keir said already: “The progress we are making today is further proof that by investing in our relationships with likeminded friends and partners, we can deliver real change for working people.

“The Treaty we will sign today, the first of its kind, will bring the UK and Germany closer than ever. It not only marks the progress we have already made and the history we share. It is the foundation on which we go further to tackle shared problems and invest in shared strengths.

“Chancellor Merz’s commitment to make necessary changes to German law to disrupt the supply lines of the dangerous vessels which carry illegal migrants across the Channel is hugely welcome. As the closest of allies, we will continue to work closely together to deliver on the priorities that Brits and Germans share.”

Monty Python star Eric Idle has said Reform UK leader Nigel Farage being “taken seriously” is “appalling to me” after post-Brexit issues meant he was unable to see his Spamalot musical opening in Paris last year.

The 82-year-old comedian told the PA news agency he had now applied for a talent visa in France, where he has a home, in the hope it will help him avoid a similar issue happening again.

Claiming Brexit rules limited his options, he told PA: “Eight years ago, we could go and live in any country in Europe we wanted to and work, and I wasn’t even allowed to vote (in the EU referendum) because I lived here (in the US).

“I mean, (Brexit) was just a terrible con, it was a real con, and (the fact) that Nigel Farago (Farage) still exists anywhere and is taken seriously is appalling to me.”

Brits and Germans alike will benefit from a closer partnership on the issues that matter most to them according to the Government, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosts Chancellor Friedrich Merz for a comprehensive visit to London today (Thursday 17 July) to revamp the UK-Germany friendship and sign a Bilateral Friendship and Cooperation Treaty.

Alongside the Treaty, Germany is expected to make a landmark commitment to make it illegal in Germany to facilitate illegal migration to the UK with the law change to be adopted by the end of the year.

The change will give law enforcement the tools they need to investigate and take action against warehouses and storage facilities used by migrant smugglers to conceal dangerous small boats intended for illegal crossings to the UK. According to Downing Street, this will bolster efforts to prosecute those involved in smuggling and support the dismantling of the criminal networks driving unacceptable and unlawful journeys through Europe.