🔗 Share this article Government Official Rejects Claims of Declining to Call Maduro Extradition Unlawful to Appease Trump. Welcome back. Before Christmas, the Labour leader had intended to use the initial days back after the holiday recess to highlight ministers' actions to reduce the living expenses. He outlined this argument recently in a piece where he referenced steps including plans to cut utility costs. Unfortunately, his cost of living media push has been blown out of the news agenda by the former US president, and his entirely different strategy to ensuring supporters receive cheap energy. Not a single figure in British political life seems very keen on adopting the Trump approach – which is likely good news for other nations. But there is an intense debate under way about what the UK government should be willing to say about the American action to extradite the Venezuelan president, and replace him with someone expected to be more cooperative with US demands, particularly in regarding the country’s oil industry. Keir Starmer has refused to criticise the US action, and the government has dodged questions about whether or not it viewed what happened as lawful. Recently, all EU states apart from Hungary issued a joint statement which, while not explicitly condemning, did emphasise the importance of global rules, and by inference accuse Trump of disregarding it. It said: The European Union call for restraint and caution by all actors, to prevent a worsening and to secure a peaceful resolution to the crisis. The Union reiterates that, under all circumstances, the tenets of international law and the United Nations charter must be respected. Members of the United Nations Security Council have a particular responsibility to defend those principles, as a pillar of the global security framework. The migration minister, was doing an series of media appearances this morning and, when asked if Starmer was declining to say the Maduro extradition broke international law because he was afraid of upsetting Trump, Tapp responded: Not at all. UK ministers are and will remain in conversations with the Americans. And it’s for the Americans to explain the juridical rationale for the steps that they’ve taken. And we’re also consulting with key partners looking at the juridical dimension of this. But last night, in an appearance on the BBC, the chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee (and a ex- shadow attorney general), said she was deeply worried about the way Trump seems to think, like the Russian leader and China’s Xi Jinping, that he could do what he wanted in his sphere of influence. Questioned about Starmer refusing to say that Trump was in violation of international law, Thornberry said, because the PM was in office, he had to balance “multiple factors”. But she was in a different position because she was not a minister, she said. She went on: Ultimately there is no getting away from it. This is an unlawful move. The Prime Minister may well want to hear what the reasoning is from the US administration. I can state before us and say I cannot think of anything that could be a valid excuse. Here is the schedule for the day. 10am: The Scottish first minister, gives a address in Glasgow. The Scottish opposition leader, and Scottish Tory leader, are also giving talks, at mid-morning and lunchtime in turn. All the leaders are gearing up to the Scottish parliament vote in May. Morning: The Prime Minister is on a tour in Berkshire where he is due to make comments to the media. 11.30am: Downing Street holds a press briefing. 2.30pm: The home secretary, takes questions in the Commons. After 3.30pm: Yvette Cooper, is expected to give a update to MPs about the ongoing situation.