Keir Starmer was slammed for attempting to “rewind” Brexit after suggesting the UK was tricked into voting to depart the European Union. Sir Keir mentioned the 2016 referendum choice was based mostly on a sequence of false guarantees that haven’t come true. And he tried to put the blame on Nigel Farage, whose celebration Reform UK is ten factors forward of Labour within the polls. But Mr Farage hit again, warning: “For some reason Sir Keir Starmer remains determined to drag us back under the heels of Brussels.”
Tory shadow international secretary Dame Priti Patel mentioned Sir Keir had given up any pretence of accepting the results of the 2016 vote. She mentioned: “Ten years after the referendum, Keir Starmer is still arguing with the British people rather than accepting their decision.” With key elections in Wales, Scotland and several other native authorities simply 12 weeks away, Sir Keir has been accused of reigniting outdated Brexit variations as a method to woo again voters from Reform UK.
Speaking solely to the Express, the Prime Minister admitted he deliberate extra offers with the EU on defence, power coverage and commerce – and claimed Mr Farage had misled voters.
Sir Keir mentioned: “As far as Nigel Farage is concerned, let us remind ourselves that he said if we left the EU it would be £350 million a week for the NHS – that didn’t happen.
“He said if we left the EU there would be less red tape for trading into Europe – try telling that to any business that is trading into Europe. He said if we left the EU regular migration would go down – it quadrupled under the Boris wave. So I wouldn’t listen too much to what Nigel Farage has to say about this.”
In truth, the NHS funding pledge was made by the official depart marketing campaign, backed by former Tory Prime Minister Boris Johnson and ex-Labour MP Gisela Stuart, whereas Mr Farage was a part of a separate marketing campaign. Collared by the Express en-route from Shanghai to Tokyo throughout a commerce go to, Sir Keir blamed the Conservatives for a flatlining economic system, rising unemployment and a rise in the price of residing underneath his watch.
He added: “It is absolutely clear from the botched deal we got from the last government has caused damage to our economy which is why we have reset that relationship and do want to get closer of defence and security, on energy, on emissions and trade.”
The Prime Minister claimed a brand new settlement with the EU on meals and agriculture will result in decrease costs in supermarkets. But responding to the feedback, Mr Farage insisted the UK was stronger due to Brexit – though, he mentioned, each Conservative and Labour governments didn’t take full benefit of the alternatives it provided.
“Our failure to capitalise on the economic benefits of Brexit is down to the sheer incompetence of successive Conservative and Labour governments. But on the world stage there can be no doubt Britain stands far taller now that we are no longer tied to the European Union.”
And Dame Priti mentioned it was important to finish Brexit by leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a key demand of the Express’s “Give Us a Proper Brexit” marketing campaign.
She mentioned: “Too much power still sits outside our democratic reach. Treaties, conventions, and foreign courts continue to constrain Parliament, override our laws and frustrate enforcement. That is why the Conservatives, now alongside the Daily Express, are right to say the time has come to leave the ECHR and restore full democratic control.
“Starmer wants to rewind Brexit. Handing power back to European technocrats will not grow our economy, lower prices, or control immigration. A proper Brexit means standing up for democratic control.”
Eurosceptic Labour MP Graham Stringer, writing within the Express in the present day, mentioned Brexit “betrayal must not be tolerated”.
Sir Keir additionally revealed he nonetheless needs Britain to affix a expensive EU defence fund. He mentioned he needs to restart talks on Britain collaborating within the £130billion Security Action For Europe (SAFE) fund though his Government hesitated on the excessive worth demanded by Brussels final yr.
Our campaign for a correct Brexit, within the run-up to the tenth anniversary of the Referendum in June, is backed by political heavyweights together with Mr Farage, Mr Johnson, Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch and Tory Brexit champion Jacob Rees-Mogg.
We grew to become the primary newspaper in 2010 to declare Britain should depart the EU. As nicely as giving the UK full management over its borders by leaving the ECHR, our new campaign requires slashing purple tape for companies and implementing a 12 mile exclusion zone across the UK for British vessels solely.
The Prime Minister has pushed for nearer financial relations with the Bloc since coming into energy in July 2024. Sir Keir has mentioned he needs to “go further” in transferring Britain nearer to the EU single market as he cranked up his plot to reverse Brexit.
This is regardless of a manifesto promise to not rejoin the EU single market or customs union. Europe Minister Nick Thomas-Symonds and Business Secretary Peter Kyle will maintain talks about EU alignment with their European counterparts tomorrow (Tues).
It comes forward of the following UK-EU summit, which is predicted to happen in May. The UK is already lining up with Brussels on some guidelines round meals and agriculture to permit entry to the financial European buying and selling zone.
Joining the EU’s single market would eradicate commerce tariffs between Britain and the EU, however Westminster must observe guidelines set by Brussels and settle for free motion of individuals.
Several of Sir Keir’s Cabinet colleagues have damaged ranks in current months to counsel Britain ought to rejoin the EU customs union.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, have mentioned a customs union would enhance financial development as Labour struggles to ship on guarantees to extend GDP.
The UK formally left the EU single market and customs union at 11pm on 31 December 2020. It adopted a June 2016 referendum the place 17.4 million folks voted to depart the EU, with a break up of 52% versus 48%.
https://www.express.co.uk/news/politics/2165296/keir-starmer-nigel-farage-furious