Starmer's Brussels Visit Could Signal Shift in Brexit Relations

[Social Media]

 

Keir Starmer is preparing to reset the UK's relationship with the European Union, with plans to overhaul Britain's Brexit deal by the spring. This week, the Prime Minister will meet European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Brussels. The talks come amid growing acknowledgment that stronger ties with the EU are crucial as the UK faces economic challenges and the need for growth.

 

One of the key points of contention in the upcoming discussions is youth mobility. Starmer's government remains divided on the issue, particularly due to opposition from Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. Cooper has consistently opposed an agreement that would allow young people to move more freely between Europe and the UK, a proposal seen by many EU diplomats as essential for unlocking broader discussions in the spring. Pedro Serrano, the EU’s ambassador to the UK, recently floated the idea of a limited youth mobility scheme that would make it easier for young Europeans to spend a gap year in Britain and vice versa. However, Starmer rejected the idea of a more comprehensive deal, leaving officials in Brussels uncertain about the UK's intentions regarding closer EU ties.

 

These preliminary talks are expected to lay the groundwork for a more formal EU-UK summit in the spring, where Starmer will meet with von der Leyen and António Costa, the incoming president of the European Council. However, it remains unclear what the outcomes of these discussions will be. Whether Starmer is willing to engage in any form of agreement on youth mobility will be an early indicator of how serious his government is about resetting relations with the EU. EU diplomats have grown frustrated with the UK's characterization of the youth mobility proposal as a form of "free movement of people," pointing out that the scheme would be age- and time-limited.

 

"The EU is particularly keen on youth mobility, which seems to have turned into a test of good faith," said Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe think tank. "It’s like they’re saying, ‘if the UK is serious, it’ll make some concessions on this.’ I don’t think they expect to get everything they’re asking for, but some member states are desperate. There’s political pressure to let young people come here. From our point of view, we want to start unlocking some of the kind of small things around the [Brexit deal] that could make life easier."

 

While Downing Street continues to oppose any youth mobility deal, Labour insiders point to Cooper as the leading figure resisting this move due to her desire to curb immigration. “They are blaming Yvette for not being able to do [more], but they know they have to do youth mobility to get anything out of the EU,” one source said.

 

At this stage, Labour is not considering rejoining the EU’s customs union or single market, steps that could have a more profound impact on the UK's economic growth. Within Labour’s ranks, there is some uncertainty about Starmer’s willingness to take significant political risks in order to achieve a meaningful revision of the Brexit deal. "On the Labour side, there’s political pressure to be seen to be doing something," Menon said. "It’s almost the mirror image of the Tories, because they spent a lot of time talking more extremely about the EU than they were willing to act in practice. With Labour, its members and voters want them to have a closer relationship with the EU, so Labour has to do enough to keep those people happy without actually breaching any of its red lines."

 

An EU diplomat welcomed the proposed reset in relations but emphasized that the UK also needs to take proactive steps. “We are missing Great Britain very much on many issues in the council [of EU ministers],” the diplomat said. “A better relationship is very important, but again what is very important is to remember that it was the UK that quit.”

 

Based on a report from: The Guardian 2024-09-30

 

 

 

[JonnyF]

4 hours ago, Social Media said:

Keir Starmer is preparing to reset the UK's relationship with the European Union, with plans to overhaul Britain's Brexit deal by the spring.

 

In other words, sell out the people who voted for Brexit by gradually crawling back to the EU like the simp he is.

 

Assuming he lasts that long, which is looking doubtful. 

[Chomper Higgot]

The BREXIT vote asked if Britain should or should not leave the EU,  it did not give the Tory Government the mandate for anything else.

 

Starmer is very rightly making moves to undo the vandalism perpetrated by the Tories against the best interests of the UK wrt to the EU.

 

Good luck to Labour in those respects, the Ik economy, UK businesses and the people of the UK can only benefit from improvement in UK EU relations and trade.

[RuamRudy]

The majority of UK voters recognise that brexit was a stupid idea which was badly executed. 

59% want to rejoin. That's what Starmer should be discussing. 

[Nick Carter icp]

34 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

The majority of UK voters recognise that brexit was a stupid idea which was badly executed. 

59% want to rejoin. That's what Starmer should be discussing. 

 

   That is quite close , I would demand another vote 🙂

[RuamRudy]

3 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   That is quite close , I would demand another vote 🙂

 

Farage said something similar prior to the pliant dullards being mobilised. 

[Chomper Higgot]

4 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

The majority of UK voters recognise that brexit was a stupid idea which was badly executed. 

59% want to rejoin. That's what Starmer should be discussing. 

The EU will not discuss the UK rejoining until either the Conservatives get their extreme rightwing under control, putting the back in alignment with the electorate, and/or they are replaced as the party of opposition by the Lib Dems.

 

As it stands it looks like the Tories have not yet assuaged their thirst for self destructive rightwing madness, but at least they are no longer in a position to visit it upon the nation.

 

[James105]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The EU will not discuss the UK rejoining until either the Conservatives get their extreme rightwing under control, putting the back in alignment with the electorate, and/or they are replaced as the party of opposition by the Lib Dems.

 

As it stands it looks like the Tories have not yet assuaged their thirst for self destructive rightwing madness, but at least they are no longer in a position to visit it upon the nation.

 

 

The lib dems received less votes than reform.

[herfiehandbag]

6 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   That is quite close , I would demand another vote 🙂

 

2 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

 

Farage said something similar prior to the pliant dullards being mobilised. 

Hmm, failure to appreciate the irony of @Nick Carter icp's remark does rather lay you open to charges of being a "plient dullard" yourself!

[JonnyF]

6 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

The majority of UK voters recognise that brexit was a stupid idea which was badly executed. 

59% want to rejoin. That's what Starmer should be discussing. 

 

Making historic decisions about a countries future, overturning a historic referendum, all based on a YouGov poll?

 

Sounds like a great idea. 😄

[RayC]

7 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Making historic decisions about a countries future, overturning a historic referendum, all based on a YouGov poll?

 

Sounds like a great idea. 😄

 

Governments are there to govern. They should act in the country's best interests. Unfortunately,it was a tenet that Cameron forgot.

[JonnyF]

14 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

Governments are there to govern. They should act in the country's best interests. Unfortunately,it was a tenet that Cameron forgot.

 

A referendum would be required to rejoin.

 

Off the back of an election win that made it clear in the manifesto that there would be a referendum on the issue.

 

Anything less would be deeply undemocratic and likely lead to civil unrest and legal action.  

[Chomper Higgot]

8 hours ago, James105 said:

 

The lib dems received less votes than reform.

But win way more seats.

[Nick Carter icp]

10 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

A referendum would be required to rejoin.

 

Off the back of an election win that made it clear in the manifesto that there would be a referendum on the issue.

 

Anything less would be deeply undemocratic and likely lead to civil unrest and legal action.  

 

  Would you like a "not" to put somewhere in your post ?

[RayC]

8 minutes ago, JonnyF said:

 

A referendum would be required to rejoin.

 

Off the back of an election win that made it clear in the manifesto that there would be a referendum on the issue.

 

Anything less would be deeply undemocratic and likely lead to civil unrest and legal action.  

 

For once we agree.

 

However, my point is that Cameron put self before anything else. The only reason he promised a referendum was to attempt to strengthen his position as leader of the Conservative Parliamentary party.

 

Farage was - and remains - an effective politician, but there was no great public clamber for a Brexit referendum in the early 2010s. Cameron opened a Pandora's Box and we are where we are now: A fractious country. 

 

I dislike Johnson but have nothing other than complete contempt for Cameron.

[Nick Carter icp]

15 hours ago, RuamRudy said:

The majority of UK voters recognise that brexit was a stupid idea which was badly executed. 

59% want to rejoin. That's what Starmer should be discussing. 

 

   What does this actually mean ?

 

In favour of joining the EU: 48% Against joining the EU: 33% Would not vote: 8% Don’t know: 

 

   48  % wouldn't be the majority in a referendum where there are only two possible answers and therefore re-join wouldn't win 

 

[RayC]

7 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   What does this actually mean ?

 

In favour of joining the EU: 48% Against joining the EU: 33% Would not vote: 8% Don’t know: 

 

   48  % wouldn't be the majority in a referendum where there are only two possible answers and therefore re-join wouldn't win 

 

 

Actually if those figures are accurate, rejoin would win. 8% would not vote therefore - in the unlikely event that all 11% of 'Don't knows' voted "Leave" - there would still be a majority in favour of rejoining: (48/92)*100 = 52.2% (Wouldn't that be a coincidence!)

[Nick Carter icp]

20 minutes ago, RayC said:

 

Actually if those figures are accurate, rejoin would win. 8% would not vote therefore - in the unlikely event that all 11% of 'Don't knows' voted "Leave" - there would still be a majority in favour of rejoining: (48/92)*100 = 52.2% (Wouldn't that be a coincidence!)

 

   Its one thing asking a hypothetical question , but asking if the public want to through another six years of uncertainty before an actual join date .

   If there was another referendum and it was made quite clear that there would only be one referendum and no more , would you accept the result ? 

[RayC]

10 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

   Its one thing asking a hypothetical question , but asking if the public want to through another six years of uncertainty before an actual join date .

   If there was another referendum and it was made quite clear that there would only be one referendum and no more , would you accept the result ? 

 

Generally speaking, I'm not in favour of referendums: Imo governments are elected to govern and that's what they should do.

 

Having said that, if we are ever to rejoin the EU, then a 'Join' vote in a referendum would probably be a pre-requisite for doing so, if we are to avoid civil unrest.

 

If the result was to stay out, I doubt that the issue would be raised again until 2050 at least. By that time, I will either be too old to care or be pushing up the daisies.