Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has hailed the UK-Australia relationship as he vowed to "defend democracy itself" alongside "my mate", the 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 Mr Starmer.

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 the King at Balmoral Castle in England.

Both leaders appeared together to underline their commitment to the AUKUS defence pact, before Mr 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 remar

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