Starmer on an interview on the BBC, reported in the Guardian, said he wanted closer alignment with the EU and its single market but no return to freedom of movement nor the customs union. In fact the reports suggest that he is presenting a new language for the current policy to try and stop the momentum towards the customs union. I don’t think this is an advance although he may change his mind; he often does, usually after some poor front bencher has just defended the policy. It’s all very, “The thick of it”.
This story was also reported in the FT, BBC & Independent. The BBC report is much clearer that there has been no change to the “Red Lines”.
Starmer, Labour and the Redlines
Starmer prepares for parliamentary battles over imminent EU ‘reset’ bill was advertised by @jessicaelgot on twitter as a movement on the red lines.
It is clearer on reading that this is an attempt to accelerate UK agreement to the currently on-going trade negotiations by increasing the powers of the relevant ministers.
The article uses the phrase swiss-style agreement which is highly unlikely to succeed and at the best is tone deaf as to the EU’s needs and wants.
UK in a changing Europe, document what they see as the timetable and goals of the current reset negotiations. I see them as optimistic, and everyone seems to forget that the EU’s starting point is full implementation of the withdrawal agreement and Windsor framework; there remain, even 18 months after the general election, eight infringement proceedings unresolved.
It’s sort of interesting that they think they need new language, but to me, they have not yet changed their mind. I predict they won’t until they abandon the strategy of triangulating against Reform and that will take significant personnel changes in the Government.