by Noor Qurashi, Mailonline
Sir Keir Starmer‘s hopes of securing a free trade deal with the US have received a fresh blow after officials said they were ‘concerned about freedom of expression’ in the UK.
The US state department issued a statement on Sunday night in relation to the case of an anti-abortion campaigner, with a source later suggesting there should be ‘no free trade without free speech’.
It said it was ‘monitoring’ the case of Livia Tossici-Bolt, who was prosecuted for holding a sign near a Bournemouth abortion clinic that read ‘here to talk if you want’.
A verdict on the case is due this Friday.
The state department’s comment on the case has also been branded unusual as it would not normally comment on the domestic policies of another country.
But a source familiar with trade negotiations told the Telegraph there should be ‘no free trade without free speech’.
It comes as Sir Keir has been attempting to strike a deal with the US since Donald Trump announced tariffs on ‘all countries’.
A phone call between the two leaders over the weekend saw Number 10 concede on Monday the financial charges would likely hit Britain.
It is not the first time a US body has criticised the UK over free speech in recent months as during Sir Keir’s visit to Washington last month, Vice President JD Vance explicitly confronted the prime minister, saying there are ‘infringements on free speech’ in the UK.