Starmer to ‘put Britain at heart of Europe’ in scramble to save premiership
PM pins hopes of survival on closer ties with EU after Labour’s historic defeat at local elections
Sir Keir Starmer will promise to put Britain “at the heart of Europe” in a last-ditch attempt to save his premiership.
The Prime Minister will tell voters on Monday that “incremental change won’t cut it” in a reset speech aimed at reversing his political fortunes after Labour’s historic defeat at the local elections.
Pinning his hopes of survival on closer ties with the European Union (EU), Sir Keir will say: “This Labour Government will be defined by rebuilding our relationship and by putting Britain at the heart of Europe.”
More than 40 Labour MPs have demanded that Sir Keir resign and, after the speech, he is expected to face a leadership challenge from Catherine West, a Labour backbencher.
The Prime Minister’s speech is being seen by many MPs as a crucial moment as they decide whether to topple him as leader.
It is not, however, expected to contain major new policy announcements, and some of Sir Keir’s allies are concerned that the “hype” around it could cause it to fall flat on Monday afternoon.
Instead, the Labour leader is planning to argue that anger at his administration and party cannot be solved overnight, and that the speech is just the first of many interventions to turn the tide.
The speech is intended to set a narrative of change next week, which will continue with the King’s Speech on Wednesday.
Sir Keir has significantly strengthened British ties to Brussels after a “reset” deal this time last year, which handed European boats access to British fishing waters for 12 years and agreed to rejoin the Erasmus student exchange scheme.
He is now looking to draw even closer to the EU, saying over the weekend that Britain was close to an agreement on the terms of a youth mobility scheme.
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On Sunday, Labour MPs who were elected when Sir Keir won back dozens of Red Wall constituencies at the 2024 general election questioned the wisdom of reviving the EU debate.
Jonathan Hinder, the MP for Pendle and Clitheroe, said pro-European outliers who wanted Sir Keir to go further and rejoin the bloc were “destroying Labour”.
Responding to Ben Judah, a former special adviser to David Lammy, claiming Labour must campaign to rejoin at the next general election, Mr Hinder said: “Look at the results in Wigan, Sunderland, Grimsby, St Helens and Hartlepool.
“And this is the response? Utter contempt for working-class people. These people are destroying Labour.”
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Featured image: The Telegraph
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