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Keir Starmer Renewed risk Quarrel with members of his cabinet After he said the UK was ready to “get closer” to the EU to undo the damage caused Brexit.
PM says UK should work more closely with UK European Union single market Adding that “we should go that far” when it is in the national interest.
But he poured cold water on the idea that Britain should do so. Rejoin the customs union Days after his health minister spoke with the E.U. Wes Streeting Said this arrangement has “huge economic benefits.”
Sir Keir said there was too much water “under the bridge”, especially after the UK signed trade deals with the US and India which may have to be unraveled before any customs union agreement can be agreed.
But he said the UK could “go further” in the single market.
In an interview with BBC Sunday’s Laura Kuenssberg programme, the Prime Minister pointed to the steps agreed last year Aligning the UK more closely with the EU on agriculture and foodHe added: “This is a sovereign decision we made.
“I think we should be closer and if closer integration with the single market is in our national interest then we should consider that and we should go that far.”
He added: “I think it’s in our national interest to go further.”
On the idea of a customs union, he added: “I do understand why people would say ‘wouldn’t it be better to be in a customs union?’ “I actually think that now that we have an agreement with the United States that is in our national interest, now that we have an agreement with India that is in our national interest, we are better off looking to the single market rather than a customs union for our further coordination. “
But the Prime Minister ruled out restoring freedom of movement, a key principle of the EU’s single market, although he pointed to plans for a new scheme to allow young people to come to the UK to work and vice versa for a period of time.
In response, shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel accused the Labor leader of “Brexit betray”.
“To appease his backbenchers, Keir Starmer are seeking to align themselves with the single market – giving up our freedom to cut regulations and strike our own trade deals,” she added.
No 10 was forced to say the prime minister was “very happy” with his cabinet after Mr Streeting’s comments before Christmas.
This is seen as a direct challenge to Sir Keir The health secretary said “deeper trading relationships” with Europe would boost UK economic growth.
The Labor leader promised a “reset” in Britain’s relationship with the EU but rejected calls to rejoin the group or become part of its single market or customs union.
However, Labor ministers have begun to talk more about the economic costs of Brexit in recent weeks.
A recent analysis showed that The Independent, disclose The EU costs the UK up to £90 billion in lost tax revenue every year.
On Sunday, the Liberal Democrats announced they would introduce an amendment to the EU reset bill in an attempt to force a new vote in parliament on the customs union, which the government is expected to table in the coming weeks.
In early December, more than a dozen Labor MPs voted with the Liberal Party, calling on the government to negotiate a new bill. European Union-UKcCustoms Union.
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said: “Businesses are being mired in red tape and families are paying the price of the appalling Brexit deal left behind by the Tories. But so far the Labor government has been too timid, tinkering around the edges as it rebuilds our relationship with Europe.”