Keir Starmer ‘hell bent’ on Brexit betrayal as ‘die hard remainer’ PM eyes EU orbit | Politics | News
Keir Starmer risks betraying millions of Britons after admitting he is ready to move closer to the EU’s single market. Reform UK said the Prime Minister could “once again shatter Labour’s election promise” by stripping away their hard-fought freedom to leave the bloc.
Richard Tice, the party’s deputy leader, said: “Surrounded by a cabinet of other parties, this incorrigible Remainer Prime Minister is determined to bring Britain back into Brussels’ orbit at any cost.
“Closer alignment with the single market would mean surrendering our hard-won sovereignty and accepting freedom of movement. It would once again shatter Labour’s election promise and betray the millions who voted to take back control of our borders.
“Why would we want to approach a failed EU economic model with Germany in recession?”
Labor has pledged to improve its trade deal with the EU in 2024 but has re-emphasized its red lines on free movement and membership of the single market or customs union.
The Prime Minister insisted on Sunday that the UK must “go further” in strengthening post-Brexit ties with Brussels.
But despite the Health Secretary appearing to have poured cold water on proposals for the UK to rejoin the customs union with the EU Wes Street He said the regulation provided “tremendous economic benefits.”
Speaking to BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg program broadcast on Sunday, the Prime Minister drew attention to the steps taken to ensure closer alignment with the EU on agriculture and food and added: “This is a sovereign decision we have taken.
“I think we need to get closer, and if even closer alignment with the single market is in our national interest, then we should consider that, we should go that far.”
Sir Keir added: “I think it is in our national interest to go further.
“I can say this about the customs union: I have defended the customs union with the EU for many years, but now a lot of water has flowed under the bridge.
“Why do people ask, ‘Wouldn’t it be better if we went to the customs union?’ I understand what you say. In fact, I think that we have now made agreements with the USA in line with our national interests, and agreements with India in line with our national interests; “I think it would be better for us to look at the single market rather than the customs union to achieve greater harmony.”
But the Prime Minister insisted that freedom of movement – a fundamental principle of the EU single market – was off the table as he faced questions about what concessions he was willing to make in return.
Asked if he was prepared to allow EU citizens to come to the UK unrestricted, he said: “No.
“But we are looking at a youth mobility plan that will allow young people to travel, work, play and experience different European countries.”
Sir Keir has recently faced pressure from his own supporters to change course on the customs union; Nearly 13 Labor MPs backed proposals that would pave the way for such a regulation in a House of Commons vote last month.
Downing Street said in late December that the Government would stick to its “red lines” on EU relations, which include not rejoining the single market, customs union or returning to freedom of movement.
But the Liberal Democrats plan to table an amendment that would impose a legal duty on the Government to open customs union negotiations with the EU, in a bid to force a new vote on the issue.
