By Courtney Gould

Copyright abc

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hailed the UK–Australia relationship as he vowed to “defend democracy itself” alongside “my mate”, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

The two leaders embraced on stage in Liverpool, northern England, at the UK Labour Party conference, where rumours have been swirling about a leadership challenge to Sir Keir.

It comes as the prime minister ends a mammoth overseas trip, which took in an address to the United Nations in New York and a meeting with King Charles III at Balmoral Castle in Scotland.

Both leaders appeared together to underline their commitment to the AUKUS defence pact, before Albanese used a speech to rail against what he called “the low politics of fear and resentment” on the rise in the UK and elsewhere.

Perhaps his most striking remarks, however, were directed towards what he described as an erosion of trust in politics and the rise of extremist movements in the UK and elsewhere.

“We all know this is a time when trust in governments and institutions is under challenge,” he said.

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