Keir Starmer was accused of plotting a full-scale Brexit betrayal on Sunday as he battles to shore up his faltering leadership.
The Prime Minister said he wanted to pursue ‘even closer alignment with the single market’ in a signal he is planning yet another manifesto breach.
He added that he wanted to ‘go further’ with the EU if it is in the national interest.
Any return to the single market would bring back freedom of movement with EU member states – a huge political risk.
Sir Keir is attempting to reset his ailing premiership as Labour languishes in the polls.
He also insisted he would still be in No 10 by 2027, as he warned those plotting against him that forcing him out would unleash ‘utter chaos’.
Other party leaders rounded on the Prime Minister on Sunday, accusing him of betraying Brexit despite repeatedly claiming that rejoining the single market was a ‘red line’.
Reform UK’s Nigel Farage said: ‘Starmer’s Brexit betrayal is a breach of good faith with Labour voters.
‘His tying of us to crazy EU Net Zero policies and carbon taxes will continue the de-industrialisation of the UK and increase the cost of living. We will fight Starmer every step of the way.’
Keir Starmer was accused of plotting a full-scale Brexit betrayal on Sunday as he battles to shore up his faltering leadership
Kemi Badenoch suggested his backtracking showed his precarious position in the opinion polls.
‘It is a sign of Keir Starmer’s total weakness that he has started the year trying to reopen the old Brexit wounds,’ the Conservative leader said. ‘Instead of signing Britain up to EU rules we have no say over, Starmer should focus on cutting spending, cutting taxes, bringing down the benefits bill and getting Britain working again.’
Justifying his claims, Sir Keir said the UK had already matched the EU on food and agriculture.
‘There are other areas where we should consider if it’s in our interest to do the same and align with the single market,’ he said. ‘We take a sovereign decision whether we align or not. I think it’s in our national interest to go further.’
He also told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: ‘I think we should get closer, and if it’s in our national interest to have even closer alignment with the single market, then we should consider that – we should go that far.’
But he ruled out a return to the customs union – which would remove tariffs and checks on goods – saying it would jeopardise subsequent trade deals.
He added: ‘I do understand why people are saying, ‘Wouldn’t it be better to go to a customs union?’.
‘I actually think now we’ve done deals with the US which are in our national interest, now we have done deals with India which are in our national interest, we are better looking to the single market rather than the customs union for our further alignment.’
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Reform UK leader Nigel Farage called the PM’s pursuit of a closer alignment with the EU’s single market ‘a breach of good faith with Labour voters’
Sir Keir did not spell out what form this closer alignment with the single market could take.
His words suggest he envisages a Swiss-style, sector-by-sector arrangement or more informal agreement involving mutual recognition of services.
Asked whether he would accept a return to freedom of movement – a key pillar of the single market – the Prime Minister claimed this was off the table.
But he did say he hoped to agree a scheme to allow 18- to 30-year-olds to travel and work between Britain and the EU.
Just last month, No 10 said the Government would stick to its ‘red lines’ on the EU, including not rejoining the single market, customs union or returning to freedom of movement.
It also comes after Sir Keir broke his manifesto pledge to not increase National Insurance and follows him being forced by his party to not increase income tax.
Speculation has raged that Labour is planning to row back on Brexit, with Health Secretary Wes Streeting recently saying the bloc offers ‘enormous economic benefits’.
Sir Keir also faces party pressure to join a customs union, with 13 Labour MPs backing a proposal to do so last month. The Lib Dems – who tabled the vote – said they plan to legally force the Government to begin talks with the EU on a customs union.
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Keir Starmer is accused of new Brexit betrayal as he plots a return to the single market