Prime Minister Keir Starmer's remarks at the UK-Overseas Territories Joint Ministerial Council.
It's a real pleasure to be here, to see you and for many cases sitting round the table to be reminded of my old world, because I have litigated in your countries, or litigated about your country, for about two thirds of you around the table, so it's really good to have this opportunity to talk to you and to be here. Thank you also for coming to London.
I think this is towards the end of two days that you've been here, which I hope has gone well. And I'm deeply appreciative of the fact that I am what stands between you and a drinks reception, so I'll keep this relatively brief.
You have come a long way to be around this table and made a huge effort as you always do. But we are the beneficiaries because we are the ones that gain from the fact that you're here at these discussions, so I really appreciate the time that you've put into it. And believe you me, it really makes a difference to the way in which we approach our shared concerns.
And because it is the first of a new Government this is an opportunity for me to make absolutely clear, to repeat no doubt what others have said, that we want to reset the government's relationship with our Overseas Territories and that's part of a bigger piece of work that we're doing resetting on the international stage -being clear about the role of the UK in an ever more volatile world - but that does include the reset with you.
And that is why it's really important for me personally to be here, because I need to get to know you, you need to get to know me, you need to feel that you can
