Britain has put the tech tax and online safety laws on the table in talks with the US about a deal to dodge Donald Trump’s tariffs, Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed.

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US Vice President JD Vance, has accused Britain of stifling free speech with the Online Safety Act which creates a legal duty for social media firms to enforce their terms of service.

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Neither the digital services tax nor the Online Safety Act is expected to be revoked entirely, but the Government has considered changing the way they work so that their impact on tech firms is softened.

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A Labour MP with knowledge of No 10’s thinking on how to offer tech concessions to appease Trump on tariffs said “I think the PLP is going to be shocked” when they realise how the Government plans to water down the enforcement of the Online Safety Act.

The MP said that commitment to protect the existing Act is an “easy red line to meet” as the legislation is effectively a “statement of principles” that outsources the duty of care to Ofcom, and that this can be tinkered with.