Labour leader Keir Starmer's push to strengthen UK-EU ties has hit a roadblock as several potential successors to the Labour leadership have called for the UK to re-enter the EU. The move, which comes ahead of a key summit to discuss deeper trade and defence co-operation, threatens to undermine Starmer's plans for a closer relationship with Brussels.
The calls to rejoin the EU, made by a number of Labour MPs, have sparked concern among EU officials, who have described the UK's decision to leave the EU as a 'done deal'. The UK's departure from the EU has had significant economic implications, with the country's GDP forecast to be lower than pre-Brexit levels by 2050, according to the Office for Budget Responsibility.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the UK's future relationship with the EU, Starmer remains committed to his plan for deeper trade and defence cooperation with Brussels. However, the move to reconsider the UK's EU membership has raised questions about the feasibility of this plan, particularly given the lack of support from other EU member states.
The Labour leadership hopefuls who have called for the UK to rejoin the EU include Shadow Foreign Secretary David Lammy and Shadow Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds. Their calls have been met with concern from EU officials, who have warned that the UK's decision to leave the EU must be respected.
The implications of the UK rejoining the EU would be significant, with the country potentially regaining access to the EU's single market and customs union. However, this would also require the UK to accept EU laws and regulations, which could be a difficult sell for many Labour MPs who have campaigned on a platform of greater sovereignty for the UK.