When David Cameron was leader of the opposition and well-placed to become prime minister, he urged his colleagues not to rock the boat by “banging on” about Europe. But on they banged, eventually driving Britain out of the European Union.
Now it is Sir Keir Starmer who frets about European zeal unbalancing his stride towards power, although this time the demand is reconciliation with Brussels. The opposition leader’s electoral route to Downing Street passes through pockets of pro-Brexit opinion and he doesn’t want to upset swing voters with an appearance of contempt for their judgment.
