Sir Keir Starmer has blamed the “deep damage” caused by Brexit for the country’s economic woes amid the Iran war and vowed for a “closer relationship” with the EU.
Speaking to the House of Commons this afternoon, he announced that the Government will be furthering efforts to deepen the UK’s relationship with EU member states in an attempt to strengthen the economy in the face of external shocks, such as the oil price volatility in the past few weeks.
Sir Keir said Britain’s economy has endured crises “for decades” and attempts done by previous governments “manifestly failed working people who saw their living standards flatline and their public services decimated”.
He referenced the 2008 financial crash as a turning point for the UK economy that was further worsened through austerity, Covid, the war in Ukraine and Brexit.
The Prime Minister said that this time, he wants a “closer economic relationship with our European allies, because Brexit did deep damage to the economy and the opportunities we now have to strengthen our security and cut the cost of living are simply too big to ignore”.
In previous speeches on the Iran war, Sir Keir has given similar rhetoric, pushing for closeness with the EU, for instance, he said addressing the nation two weeks ago, that “we have to have closer ties with Europe”.
He has previously emphasised that Labour’s 2024 manifesto commitments, such as not rejoining the EU single market, customs union or freedom of movement, will remain.
Sir Keir also announced today he will be conducting a joint summit with “dozens of countries” with France’s President, Emmanuel Macron.
