Keir Starmer has said a new relationship with the European Union will not be easy “but is possible” before a meeting with Ursula von der Leyen next week, as he set out defence, borders and trade as areas where he hopes for improvement.
The prime minister spoke of his hopes for a reset and did not rule out accepting an EU proposal for greater youth mobility – including easier travel, study and work for under 30s.
Starmer said he had “no plans” to accept an EU mobility scheme but it is thought it could be a bargaining chip in negotiations in return for other concessions to benefit the UK. He has repeatedly put off going to Brussels since becoming prime minister, and reopening the issue of Brexit to improve Boris Johnson’s deal is likely to be contentious.
Some pro-Brexit campaigners will leap on any signs of “watering down” the deal, while pro-EU advocates would like Starmer to do more to recover a closer relationship.
Starmer confirmed his trip, which will take place on Wednesday, after a brief first meeting with von der Leyen, the European Commission president, in New York.
Asked whether he could give a concrete example of how the EU reset could improve life, such as bringing down the cost of roaming charges or pressing the EU to allow British citizens to use e-gates when they travel to the EU, Starmer said it was “too early to get into any specifics”.
But 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.”
Starmer has put promoting growth and attracting business to the UK at the heart of his priorities, with many business leaders lobbying for an easing of post-Brexit trade barriers and border checks.
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.”
Starmer’s comments come after Pedro Serrano, the EU’s ambassador to the UK, this week suggested the commission may have softened its demands on what a youth mobility scheme could look like.
He told Times Radio: “If we have a mechanism that allows young British citizens to go out for a gap year, for example, to any – they have a choice of 27 states within the European Union – to do a bit of learning and pay there for their learning while they’re there, why not?
“If people want then to stay later for work, it’s a totally different process. This would be limited in time.”
Starmer will probably tread carefully on the issue of youth mobility as some Brexit supporters would see it as a partial return to free movement without signing up to the single market in full.
Likewise, any efforts to reduce friction in trade at the border would probably have to be done without a formal return to accepting blanket rules and regulations from Brussels under the customs union and single market.
Starmer, who supported remaining in the EU, has promised Labour would not reverse Brexit and has talked only in general terms about resetting the UK’s relationship with Brussels.
However, Brussels has been clear that a new negotiation with the EU rather than individual nations would be necessary if any parts of Johnson’s Brexit deal are to be reworked.
