Keir Starmer has expressed willingness to align the UK more closely with the EU single market if it serves the national interest. The Prime Minister emphasized the need for closer ties with Brussels, particularly regarding rules on border checks for goods and services, while maintaining that freedom of movement for people, which ceased after Brexit, will not change.
Highlighting the misinformation spread by Nigel Farage and others during the Brexit referendum, Starmer emphasized moving forward rather than dwelling on past debates. The UK departed from the EU’s customs union and single market upon severing ties with the bloc, impacting trade tariffs, taxes, and free movement of goods, services, capital, and people.
Starmer has been advocating for a stronger relationship with Europe, as evident by a recent trade agreement. Calls within his party have urged for deeper integration, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting suggesting pursuing a customs unions deal with Brussels.
In a recent interview, the PM expressed openness to closer alignment with the single market if it benefits national interests. He acknowledged the importance of existing trade deals with the US and India, advocating for prioritizing the single market over the customs union for future alignment efforts.
When questioned about revisiting freedom of movement, the PM proposed a youth mobility scheme for young people to travel, work, and experience different European countries. Criticizing Farage’s false claims during the Brexit referendum, the PM stressed the importance of diplomatic relations over melodramatic politics.
The focus remains on forward-thinking diplomacy, with a commitment to a closer relationship with the EU in the national interest, rather than seeking to rejoin the EU. This approach aims to address the challenges post-Brexit in a constructive manner.