Keir Starmer is accused of ‘Brexit betrayal’ as he vows to re-write a deal with the EU ahead of a meeting with Emmanuel Macron
- Starmer said he wanted to secure ‘much better’ arrangements with the EU
Keir Starmer has been accused of a ‘Brexit betrayal’ after vowing to rewrite the UK’s deal with Brussels.
Ahead of talks with French president Emmanuel Macron tomorrow, the Labour leader said he wanted to secure ‘much better’ arrangements with the EU.
Sir Keir, who campaigned for a second referendum and supported the return of free movement, has previously told Brexit voters he would not seek ‘major changes’ to the deal struck by Boris Johnson.
And in an interview with the Financial Times he insisted he did not want to reverse the referendum result and was focused on trying to ‘make it work’.
But Tories warned Sir Keir could take Britain ‘back to square one’ while Brussels observers said a closer deal would be possible only by signing up to EU laws.
UK Labour Leader Keir Starmer speaks to the BBC at the Global Progress Action Summit on September 15, 2023 in Montreal, Canada
Ahead of talks with French president Emmanuel Macron tomorrow, the Labour leader said he wanted to secure ‘much better’ arrangements with the EU
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer arrives at the Gare du Nord in Paris with Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves (right) and Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy (left) ahead of his bilateral meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron
Downing Street ruled out a renegotiation, saying Rishi Sunak was focusing on ‘maximising opportunities’ outside the EU.
David Jones, a Conservative former minister, said Labour’s leader appeared to be intent on ‘unpicking Brexit’.
He added: ‘He is clearly cosying up to the EU and to Macron, who is the most Europhile member of a Europhile bunch, and who would not be seeing him unless he thinks he can get something out of Labour to his advantage.
‘My big concern with Starmer is that he is preparing the ground to sign us up to perpetual alignment with EU standards.
‘We would become a rule-taker and lose the freedom to strike better trade deals around the world.
‘There is no doubt that free movement would also have to come back on to the table before the EU would consider a new deal. I’m surprised even Starmer thinks it’s a good idea.’
Craig Mackinlay, a Conservative member of the Commons European scrutiny committee, warned that Sir Keir would ‘betray’ Brexit if he won power.
‘This is the same Keir Starmer who called for a second referendum,’ he said.
Keir Starmer posted a glossy video showing him meeting and greeting left-wing politicians including Justin Trudeau (right) at a summit in Montreal over the weekend
Tories have voiced alarm after Keir Starmer vowed to rewrite the Brexit deal if he becomes PM
‘He is someone who wants Britain to be in the EU. If he gets into No 10 then he will betray the ideals and advantages of Brexit. We will end up with more alignment with the EU, but no say over the rules – it would be the worst of both worlds.’
A Conservative Party spokesman said: ‘Seven years on from the referendum, Keir Starmer wants to take Britain back to square one on Brexit, reopening the arguments of the past all over again.
‘Keir Starmer backed Remain, then wanted a second Brexit referendum, yet now he says he accepts it.’
Sir Keir arrived in Paris last night with Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves ahead of talks at the Elysee Palace with President Macron.
Labour sources were tight-lipped about the agenda for today’s talks. But Sir Keir is expected to discuss both his hopes for fresh Brexit arrangements and his plan to create a new immigration framework with Brussels.
READ MORE: Tory fury over Keir Starmer push to unwind Brexit by rewriting EU deal in 2025 – as Labour leader posts ‘PM-in-waiting’ video of himself cuddling up to left-wing leaders in Montreal
Last week he faced a backlash after suggesting he was willing to discuss accepting thousands of asylum seekers from the EU as a ‘quid pro quo’ for a deal that would allow the UK to return some Channel migrants to Europe.
Yesterday Sir Keir insisted Labour would not rejoin the single market or customs union but said the UK could get a ‘much better’ deal. ‘I do think we can have a closer trading relationship as well,’ he said. ‘That’s subject to further discussion.’
Sir Keir said he owed it to his children, aged 12 and 15, to get a better deal. ‘I’m not going to let them grow up in a world where all I’ve got to say to them about their future is, it’s going to be worse than it might otherwise have been,’ he said.
‘Almost everyone recognises the deal Johnson struck is not a good deal – it’s far too thin. As we go into 2025 we will attempt to get a much better deal for the UK.’
Downing Street said that Mr Sunak would not reopen the trade and co-operation agreement brokered with Brussels in ‘any way, shape or form’.
A statutory review of the deal is due in 2025, but government sources said this would be focused on technical issues.
The PM’s spokesman said: ‘We’re not looking to relitigate the past or reopen it in any way, shape or form. Obviously there is a set statutory review period but beyond that we’re very much focused on maximising the opportunities it presents for the public.’
Brussels expert Wolfgang Munchau said Sir Keir’s plan was ‘based on a delusion of a similar kind, that it is possible to stay outside the single market and the customs union, and get a better deal’.
Sir Keir did a panel event with Jonas Gahr Støre (left) at the summit in Montreal
He added: ‘This is a political lie.’ Mr Munchau, director of the Eurointelligence website, said Sir Keir’s ‘repeated assertion that there is a better deal with the EU out there … is simply not true’.
He added: ‘If the EU plays hardball, as it surely will, pressure will grow from inside the Labour Party for another referendum.’
Mike Gapes, a former Labour chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, welcomed Sir Keir’s push for closer ties.
But he warned the UK would not be able to have its cake and eat it – and said Labour would have to make major concessions to secure a closer deal. ‘Now comes the hard bit,’ he said. ‘The EU is treaty- and rules-based. So drop the cakeism. The UK will not be able to cherry pick our relationship.’
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