Starmer defends proposals to give EU citizens vote

Sir Keir Starmer has insisted a Labour government would not drag Britain back into the European Union.

The Opposition leader ruled out a return to freedom of movement or membership of the single market, saying those arguments are “in the past”.

But his comments provoked anger among Brexiteers, who accused him of “flip flopping” and warned trusting Sir Keir with Brexit is like “trusting Dracula at the blood bank”.

In a personal message to Express readers, the Labour leader said the UK’s future is outside the EU but the trade deal needs “fixing”.

Sir Keir wrote: “Express readers deserve their politicians to be clear about where they stand. So let me spell it out simply.

“Britain’s future is outside the EU. Not in the single market, not in the customs union, not with a return to freedom of movement. Those arguments are in the past, where they belong.

“But they also expect politicians to be honest.

“There is no point pretending everything is working fine. The paper-thin Tory deal has stifled Britain’s potential and hugely weighted trade terms towards the EU. Every day it isn’t built upon, our European friends and competitors aren’t just eating our lunch – they’re nicking our dinner money as well.”

Sir Keir said “ducking hard conversations” would mean Britain slipped behind its competitors.

“Whether it is working with European neighbours to tackle criminal gangs and stop dangerous boat crossings, or driving down the price of food for hard-pressed British families, there is huge potential for change,” he wrote.

“That’s why we should be optimistic.

“Every one of the problems I have outlined can be fixed from outside the EU. But it will require hard work, good relations and – above all – honesty.

“Pretending everything is going fine or ducking hard conversations will see Britain miss opportunities and slip behind our competitors.”

Sir Keir made the intervention ahead of Rishi Sunak’s visit to the European Political Community summit in Moldova on Thursday.

He called on the Prime Minister to improve the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to ease burdens on business and secure science funding by rejoining the EU’s Horizon research programme.

But Brexiteers warned Sir Keir will take the UK back into the bloc by “stealth”.

Sir Keir said “ducking hard conversations” would mean Britain slipped behind its competitors.

“Whether it is working with European neighbours to tackle criminal gangs and stop dangerous boat crossings, or driving down the price of food for hard-pressed British families, there is huge potential for change,” he wrote.

“That’s why we should be optimistic.

“Every one of the problems I have outlined can be fixed from outside the EU. But it will require hard work, good relations and – above all – honesty.

“Pretending everything is going fine or ducking hard conversations will see Britain miss opportunities and slip behind our competitors.”

Sir Keir made the intervention ahead of Rishi Sunak’s visit to the European Political Community summit in Moldova on Thursday.

He called on the Prime Minister to improve the Trade and Cooperation Agreement to ease burdens on business and secure science funding by rejoining the EU’s Horizon research programme.

But Brexiteers warned Sir Keir will take the UK back into the bloc by “stealth”.

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Conservative MP Paul Bristow said: “Trusting Sir Keir with Brexit is like trusting Dracula at the blood bank.

“This is a man who pushed for a second referendum, blocked Brexit in Parliament, and tried to overturn the will of 14 million people.

“Sir Keir is probably the most pro EU MP in the UK. He will align us with EU rules and take us back in by stealth. You can’t believe a word he says.”

Leading Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg said: “As the Duke of Wellington said ‘if you believe that, you believe anything’. Apparently in reply to a man who said to him ‘Mr Smith, I believe’.”

Sir Keir attempted to frustrate Brexit 48 times in the Commons either by voting directly against it, backing “wrecking” amendments designed to thwart it or opposing the secondary legislation needed to deliver it.

Three years after Britain voted to Leave, the Labour leader was still calling for a second referendum and promising to “campaign for Remain”.

In July 2019, he tweeted: “Whatever Brexit outcome the new Prime Minister puts forward, we must have another referendum. Remain must be an option and Labour will campaign for remain.”

Sir Keir stood on a Labour manifesto in 2019 promising to restore freedom of movement after Brexit and went on to reiterate the policy in his ten pledges when he stood for leader.

In 2017, he said some form of customs union should be on the table.

He has since rowed back on all of the comments.

Earlier this month, he was accused of a “sinister” plot to drag the UK back into the EU by handing voting rights to millions of Europeans.

Labour is planning to give migrants who live permanently in the UK and pay tax the right to vote in general elections.

Around 3.4 million EU nationals with “settled status” would be handed votes with a potential 2.6 million more likely to qualify.

Sir Keir also wants to extend voting rights to 1.4 million 16 and 17-year-olds.

The plans would increase the size of the electorate by around eight per cent, the biggest expansion in almost a century.

Polling experts say migrants and teenagers are more likely to be Labour supporters.

Tory MP James Daly said: “You cannot trust a word Starmer says. People should judge him on how he has behaved and what he has said in the past.

“Now he is flip flopping because he wants to get elected. He will say anything to win.

“But he is a fanatical believer in the EU and the party behind him is stuffed full of Remainers.”

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