George Floyd protests: Keir Starmer urges Boris Johnson to challenge Trump to 'respect human rights'

'The UK has a moral obligation to speak out in defence of these values, no matter where in the world they are challenged'

Sir Keir Starmer has urged Boris Johnson to challenge Donald Trump to "respect human rights" following widespread protests in the United States over the death of George Floyd.

In a letter to the prime minister, the Labour leader said there was a "moral obligation" to speak out and the UK must show it was "ready to stand together with those who seek to tackle the injustice and inequality that remains within all our societies".

His comments come amid an outcry over the US president's incendiary response to the protests raging across the US after the death of Mr Floyd, an unarmed black man, at the hands of a white police officer.

Mr Trump has reacted in fury to the widespread unrest, tweeting that "looting means shooting" and threatening protesters outside the White House with the "most vicious dogs and most ominous weapons I have ever seen".

Sir Keir 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.

"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 pressed the prime minister on whether the government had raised concerns about about the reaction of US authorities to peaceful protests, and how he was planning to emphasise the importance of a "peaceful and proportionate" response to the protests.

Sir Keir also asked what the government was doing to ensure the UK exports "are not being used in the suppression of democratic rights" following growing calls for ministers to end the sale of riot gear and rubber bullets to the US.

Opposition MPs have demanded that export licences for the equipment be suspended pending an investigation into whether the equipment was being used by police to attack peaceful protesters and journalists.

Mr Johnson was pressed on the issue during prime minister's questions on Wednesday, where he said that he would examine concerns about British-made weapons but insisted a "scrupulous" system of checks was in place.

Asked what representations he had made to Mr Trump, Mr Johnson replied: "Of course black lives matter, and I totally understand the anger, the grief that is felt not just around America but around the world and in our country, and I totally understand and I get that.

"I also support, as I've said, the right to protest. The only point I would make to the House is that protests should be carried out lawfully and in this country protests should be carried out in accordance with our rules on social distancing."

He did not mention making any representations to Mr Trump.

More than 10,000 people have been arrested during demonstrations in the US, and protesters have taken to the streets in the UK, attending a large demonstration in Hyde Park on Wednesday.