Sir Keir Starmer is just hours away from another foreign trip – this time, to Belgium, where the Prime Minister will meet with European leaders for crunch talks on a new UK-EU security deal.
The PM has made much of Labour’s “relations reset” with the continental bloc, but the EU has not relented in its push for a number of concessions from Britain if the country cosies up to Brussels once again.
Five years and two days on from Brexit, the UK is bracing for a legal battle with the EU – which is seeking to challenge British ban on fishing for sand eels in the North Sea.
And on migration, EU top brass are said to be preparing to demand Starmer submits to a youth mobility scheme granting 18-to-30-year-olds from across the 27-member-strong alliance the right to live and work in the UK.
Downing Street maintains it has “no plans” to open up Britain’s borders to the EU – despite Sir Keir Starmer’s much-hailed “reset”.
But should the Prime Minister be seeking closer ties with the EU? Have your say in our poll below.
VOTE NOW IN THE POLL BELOW
Meanwhile, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Starmer to meet five “tests” – which, if passed, will avoid a mass Brexit betrayal.
Among the tests she has called on the PM to meet are:
- No “backsliding” on free movement or the compulsory transfer of asylum seekers;
- No new money paid to the EU;
- No reduction in fishing rights.
She also urged Starmer not to take any rules from the EU – like agreeing to a “dynamic alignment” on trade standards or allowing European courts to have jurisdiction over UK law.
And finally, Nato must have “primacy” when it comes to European security, the Tory leader said.
What do you think? Vote in the poll above, or have your say in the comments below.
