Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed a deal on defence and migration. The leaders say the UK and Germany look to “work ever more closely” on issues such as trade and security. After signing the document at the V&A Museum in London, the Prime Minister said it would be known as the Kensington Treaty.

He said: “It’s a privilege to have you here today, particularly to sign this Kensington Treaty, which is a very special treaty, because it’s the first of its kind ever, if you can believe it, between our two countries.” 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 agreement was also signed by Foreign Secretary David Lammy and his German counterpart Johann Wadephul.

Mr Merz also delivered remarks after the signing of the treaty. According to a translation of what the German chancellor said, delivered in the signing room, the treaty has reached an agreement on school exchange visits.

The deal will see Germany change its law to crack down on small boats, which Downing Street called “a significant step”.

Asked if Sir Keir Starmer was frustrated by the slow pace of change in Germany, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “We’ve always been clear that this is an international issue that requires international solutions.

“And over the last year, you’ve seen the Prime Minister working tirelessly to reset relationships across Europe, and you’ve seen a number of examples of the progress of that, not least with the French last week.

“This is a significant step that will give law enforcement and prosecutors the tools they need to address this scandal of small boats which are destined to cross the Channel being stored and concealed in Germany.

“And it will ensure that those who feed this illegal trade have nowhere to hide.

After signing the deal, Sir Keir Starmer welcomed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to Downing Street after signing the Kensington Treaty between the UK and Germany.

The Prime Minister said the treaty was a “historic document that really measures just how close our countries are and our ambition for the future.”

He said: “I’m really pleased that both our countries’ close relationship and your and my strong and close relationship at a time of real volatility in the world is really important to both our countries.”

Mr Merz said he had been “surprised” to learn it was the first UK-Germany treaty since World War 2.

He said: “We had you in the European Union and we thought that was enough, but we are now learning that it’s not enough, so we have to do more on that.”