Keir Starmer has vowed to put the “Brexit years behind us” ahead of a government trip to Brussels where he will hold talks with senior European Union officials.
The prime minister will discuss his plans for “more pragmatic and mature” EU-UK relations across meetings with European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, European Council president Charles Michel and president of the European Parliament Roberta Metsola on Tuesday.
No 10 Downing Street has said Starmer will use the discussions to set out his ambition to move beyond Brexit years and the fraught relations between UK and EU officials that characterised them.
“Better co-operation with the EU will deliver the benefits the British people deserve”, Starmer has said.
The PM will also stress that his focus remains on delivering a broad-based security pact, securing Britain’s borders, and tackling barriers to trade erected since the UK’s exit from the EU.
On the trip, Starmer will underline that at a time of growing instability in the world — as wars rage in Ukraine and the Middle East — it is important that like-minded countries co-operate more closely on areas of shared interest.
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However, the PM will reiterate that while improved co-operation with EU leaders is on the agenda, there will be no return to the single market, the customs union or freedom of movement.
Speaking ahead of the trip, Starmer said: “The UK is undeniably stronger when it works in lockstep with its closest international partners. This has never been more important — with war, conflict and insecurity all knocking on Europe’s door.
“We will only be able to tackle these challenges by putting our collective weight behind them, which is why I am so determined to put the Brexit years behind us and establish a more pragmatic and mature relationship with the European Union.
“Better co-operation with the EU will deliver the benefits the British people deserve – securing our borders, keeping us safe and boosting economic growth.”
The prime minister was asked last week whether he could name any concrete examples of how a UK-EU relations reset could improve life.
Speaking from New York, where he briefly met European Commission president von der Leyen after addressing the United Nations, Starmer said it was “too early to get into any specifics”.
He added: “Look, can we do more on defensive security together? Yes, I think we can. Can we do more on border security? Yes, I think we can. That needs to be done and can be done in closer relationship with the EU in addition to the bilateral work that I’ve already started with France, Germany and Italy, and of course a closer trading relationship.
“I want to make it easier for businesses to trade because I think that is in the interest of the UK.”
Asked if he thought a closer business relationship was possible with the UK outside the EU, common market and customs union, he said: “I think it’s possible. I’m not going to pretend it’s easy, but I think it’s possible.”
On the idea of accepting a youth mobility scheme, Starmer said: “We’ve no plans for a youth mobility scheme but we are heading out [to Brussels] for an important meeting this week — I don’t want to get ahead of any important discussion we’ll have.”
Josh Self is Editor of Politics.co.uk, follow him on X/Twitter here.
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