Starmer Signals Closer EU Alignment ‘In National Interest’
Keir Starmer hints at closer EU ties through single market alignment, rejecting full rejoin while pushing a sector-by-sector approach to boost UK trade and growth.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said the UK should move towards closer ties with EU markets "if it is in our national interest".
Speaking to Laura Kuenssberg, Sir Keir said that in order to protect trade deals with India and the US, "it would be better to look towards the single market rather than a customs union for further alignment".
However, he ruled out the possibility of rejoining the existing EU single market or customs union.
His comments come after pressure from some Labour backbenchers who are calling for a change in the party's stance on the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the EU to improve economic growth.
The UK is already aligning with Brussels on some food and agricultural regulations to maintain access to the vast European trading bloc known as the single market.
Sir Keir told Kuenssberg on her Sunday programme: "I think we should get closer, and if closer alignment with the single market is in our national interest, then we should consider it, we should go that far.
"I think it is in our national interest to go further."
He added: "I genuinely think that now that we've done deals with the US, which are in our national interest, now that we've done deals with India which are in our national interest, it would be better to look towards the single market rather than a customs union for further alignment." And now it would not be in our interests to backtrack."
Downing Street said in December that the government would stick to its "red lines" on relations with the EU – including not rejoining the single market, the customs union, or returning to freedom of movement.
These are the Prime Minister's strongest comments yet on how the UK's relationship with Brussels could be reset after Brexit, and they come after pressure from within the Labour movement to go further.
Emphasizing that forging closer economic ties was a "sovereign decision," the Prime Minister said that doing so had resulted in the best relationship with the EU "in 10 years."
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He said: "What I'm saying is there are some other areas where we should consider whether it's in our interests to do that and align with the single market.
"Now, that needs to be considered on a case-by-case, sector-by-sector basis, but we've already done that with food and agriculture and that will be implemented this year."
Reminded of his promise that "Brexit is safe in my hands," the Prime Minister insisted this was not an attempt to reverse it – because nobody wanted to "reopen the wounds of Brexit," but rather to "look forward" to what was in the national interest.
Concerns have been raised that current negotiations on a youth mobility scheme for British and EU students could result in the UK having to sign up to free movement for EU citizens entering the UK.
Sir Keir said: "This is not a return to freedom of movement, we are not going back to freedom of movement." "But I personally think it's a great thing that young people are getting this opportunity.
"And when we recently announced that we were rejoining the Erasmus scheme so that young people can study, exchange, and do research more effectively – as is now happening – it was widely welcomed."
Late last year, the UK's most senior trade unionist, Paul Nowak, said that "the closest possible economic and political relationship with the European Union" was "essential" to boost economic growth by reducing barriers with the UK's largest market.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy also said on the News Agents podcast last month that rejoining the EU customs union was "not our policy at the moment" – but he highlighted that Turkey had seen growth because of its union with the bloc.
The Turkish deal doesn't apply to agricultural goods or services, but it removes rules of origin checks, which have proven problematic for the UK since Brexit, and it has been suggested as an option for the UK.
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