![\"Keir](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Keir-Starmer-6837978.jpg\" "\\"Keir")
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Keir Starmer (Image: Getty)<\/p>\n
Sir Keir Starmer has launched a fresh push to undo Brexit in a bid to cover his \u201cfailings\u201d over the Middle East conflict, critics have warned. The Prime Minister announced new plans for closer ties with the EU on Wednesday in response to the impact of Iran\u2019s war.<\/p>\n
Sir Keir told the nation from Downing Street that the \u201cvolatile\u201d international situation caused by the US-Israeli conflict with Tehran meant Britain\u2019s \u201clong-term national interest requires closer partnership with our allies in Europe and with the European Union<\/a>\u201d. But Reform\u2019s Treasury spokesman Robert Jenrick said: “Inaction man Keir Starmer<\/a> is shamelessly using his failure to address the war in Iran as a justification to break another promise and rejoin the single market. This was his goal all along, but Labour refused to be straight with the British people.<\/p>\n \u201cThis Government has had more summits than the Himalayas. We need fewer talking shops and a lot more action. Drill in the North Sea, scrap the fuel duty rise and take VAT and green subsidies off energy bills to save households \u00a3200. There are no excuses for Starmer to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n Negotiators from the UK and EU will meet this summer to discuss closer ties on food standards and emissions, as well as a youth mobility scheme.<\/p>\n But Remainer Sir Keir suggested a closer security and economic partnership with the European Union was also needed.<\/p>\n Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel said: \u201cKeir Starmer is desperate for someone or something to blame for the terrible failings he has overseen, and has his sights set on Brexit<\/a>.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong> Ministers must use Brexit powers to end ‘national scandal’ of EU fishing in UK <\/a><\/p>\n \u201cBut it\u2019s his own Government that has sent the cost of living<\/a> up, leaving families \u00a31,000 worse off this year. Labour\u2019s tax hikes and net zero zealotry are causing misery for hardworking people while those on welfare get a bonus courtesy of Rachel Reeves<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cRather than trying to reopen the old wounds of the Brexit years, Starmer should focus on fixing the mess he has created.\u201d<\/p>\n At the General Election, the party promised not to seek a customs union, rejoin the single market or establish freedom of movement as part of closer ties with the bloc.<\/p>\n But the Prime Minister has spent weeks suggesting that he wanted to \u201cgo further\u201d in moving Britain closer to the EU single market as he cranked up his plot to reverse Brexit.<\/p>\n Speaking on Wednesday, Sir Keir said: \u201cThe manifesto commitments remain, but we made it clear in the manifesto that we wanted a closer relationship with Europe, so that is perfectly consistent with our manifesto.\u201d<\/p>\n Sir Keir has made cosying up to the EU a key mission of his Government despite 17.4million people voting to exit the Bloc.<\/p>\n The Daily Express\u2019s Give Us a Proper Brexit crusade has called for leaving the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), slashing red tape for businesses and enforcing a 12-mile exclusion zone around the UK for British vessels only.<\/p>\n