Could the Labour Government build even stronger ties with the EU?
Sir Keir Starmer plans to ‘reset’ UK-EU relationship (Image: Getty)
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was accused of “not being trusted with Brexit” after he welcomed President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen to Downing Street on Thursday, calling her “my friend”. Sir Keir said he is “really pleased” that the UK has made progress to “reset” its relationship with the EU.
The two are working on plans for “a partnership” on energy policy and a new defence pact. The prime minister said: “I’m really pleased that we’ve committed to a reset of our relationship, a really important relationship, which I think will be of huge benefit to both of us.”
Sir Keir also came under fire after it was revealed Britain was close to an agreement on a new “youth mobility scheme” with the EU. The German ambassador to the UK said he is “really optimistic” about the prospects of a youth mobility scheme deal being reached. However, shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith accused the Government of bringing back freedom of movement “by stealth”. “They may call it a youth mobility scheme, but if nobody ever gets removed at the end of their time here, then it’s immigration by another name,” he added.
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Reform UK deputy leader Richard Tice said a youth mobility scheme would be a “backdoor to free movement of people from the EU”.
He said: “This is not a government that can be trusted on Brexit. We cannot forget that this cabinet actively opposed Brexit and, in the case of Keir Starmer, actively campaigned to overturn the democratic decision of more than 17 million people.”
Speaking at a London energy summit last week, Sir Keir pledged to work more closely with the EU on energy. He said: “This is the moment to act. And it is the moment to build a partnership with the EU that meets the needs of our time, facing up to the global shocks of recent years and working together to minimise the impact on hard-working people.
“So we’re doing more with the EU to improve our interconnections and make the most of our shared energy systems as well as building on the fantastic partnerships that we already have.”
Following this, Ursula von der Leyen has suggested talks with Sir Keir could “pave the way” to the UK joining a European security programme.
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