{"id":649330,"date":"2025-12-23T00:37:17","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T00:37:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/649330\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T00:37:17","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T00:37:17","slug":"wes-streetings-bid-to-cosy-up-to-the-eu-is-an-early-shot-at-a-challenge-to-sir-keir-starmer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/649330\/","title":{"rendered":"Wes Streeting’s bid to cosy up to the EU is an ‘early shot’ at a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer"},"content":{"rendered":"

By SAM MERRIMAN, POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT<\/a> <\/p>\n

Published: 18:30 EST, 22 December 2025 | Updated: 18:59 EST, 22 December 2025 <\/p>\n

Wes Streeting<\/a> has been branded ‘opportunistic’ by a fellow Labour<\/a> MP after he suggested Britain should join a customs union with the EU, in an ‘early shot’ at a challenge to Sir Keir Starmer<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Health Secretary was on Monday accused of rolling the pitch for a leadership challenge after he used an interview to make the case for a ‘closer trading relationship’ with Brussels.<\/p>\n

The Prime Minister has twice ruled out rejoining the EU customs union in the past month \u2013 a move that would breach Labour’s election manifesto.<\/p>\n

Labour MP Graham Stringer said he believed Mr Streeting’s latest intervention \u2013 which has infuriated Sir Keir’s allies \u2013 was ‘just Wes being opportunistic knowing that, I think, it’s nearly 30 per cent of the Labour Party membership is in London<\/a>, and most of those people seem to be in favour of rejoining the EU,’ he told Times Radio.<\/p>\n

‘So it’s an early shot in what might be a leadership election after the May local elections<\/a>.’<\/p>\n

In an interview with the Observer on Sunday, Mr Streeting described the Prime Minister’s ‘reset’ deal with Brussels, branded a surrender by the Tories<\/a> and Reform, as a ‘good start’.\u00a0<\/p>\n

But he added that the best way to boost the economy would be a ‘closer trading relationship’ with the EU \u2013indicating his support for rejoining the customs union.<\/p>\n

Mr Streeting, who last month was accused by Downing Street insiders of plotting a coup, insisted Sir Keir has his ‘absolute support’, but again refused to deny he wants to run the country as he said he was ‘diplomatically ducking the question’.<\/p>\n

\"Wes <\/p>\n

Wes Streeting (pictured) was accused of rolling the pitch for a leadership challenge after he used an interview to make the case for a ‘closer trading relationship’ with Brussels<\/p>\n

Alongside Angela Rayner and Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, Mr Streeting is increasingly said to be on manoeuvres as the PM stares down the barrel of apocalyptic local elections in May.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile Downing Street reiterated that Sir Keir is sticking to his ‘red lines’ with the EU.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The PM’s spokesman said: ‘We have been very open about the need to reset our relationship with the EU and strengthen that relationship while sticking to our red lines.’<\/p>\n

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