UK PM signals need for closer ties with EU amid Iran oil crisis
Keir Starmer has insisted Labour’s manifesto red lines on closer relations with Europe remain, as he signalled the government will seek stronger ties with the EU in light of the Iran war’s global impact.
The prime minister said the ‘volatile’ international situation caused by the US-Israeli conflict with Tehran meant Britain’s ‘long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the EU’.
UK and EU negotiators are due to meet this summer to discuss closer ties on food standards and emissions, as well as a youth mobility scheme.
But Starmer suggested a closer security and economic partnership with the EU was also needed in light of the Iran oil crisis.
Speaking at a Wednesday morning Downing Street press conference to address the cost-of-living spike caused by the war, Starmer was pressed by reporters whether he now planned to abandon Labour’s manifesto commitments on negotiating closer ties with the EU.
At the general election, the party promised to not seek a customs union, to re-join the single market, or establish freedom of movement as part of closer ties with the bloc.
The prime minister told reporters: ‘The manifesto commitments remain, but we made it clear in the manifesto that we wanted a closer relationship with Europe, so that is perfectly consistent with our manifesto.’
Starmer has previously said he will neither prioritise Europe or the US, stressing that a strong relationship with both is necessary for the UK.
He insisted this had not changed, despite signs his personal relationship with US President Donald Trump appears to have deteriorated.
The prime minister said: ‘I’m not going to choose because I think it is in our interest to have a strong relationship with the US and with Europe. But I do think that when it comes to defence and security, energy emissions, and the economy, we need a stronger relationship with Europe.
‘I actually think that will help strengthen our relationship with the US, because successive presidents have said that Europe needs to do more on their defence and security.’
The prime minister had earlier told the press conference that he would seek to ‘guide our country calmly through this storm’, adding: ‘However, it is increasingly clear that as the world continues down this volatile path, our long-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the EU.’
Brexit ‘did deep damage to our economy’, Starmer said, adding that the ‘opportunities to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living are simply too big to ignore’.
The prime minister said this year’s summit with the EU will not just be used to ‘ratify existing commitments made at last year’s summit’.
He added: ‘We want to be more ambitious. Closer economic co-operation, closer security co-operation, a partnership that recognises our shared values, our shared interest and our shared future.
‘A partnership for the dangerous world that we must navigate together, a world where this government will be guided at all times by the interests of the British people.’
By David Lynch, Press Association Political Correspondent
Press Association: News
source: PA
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