Sir Keir Starmer has been criticised for potentially committing the UK to annual payments to the European Union for the first time since Brexit, as part of his push for a 'reset' in relations. European negotiators have indicated that a contribution of around £1bn a year is necessary for greater access to the single market, though UK ministers reportedly view this as a starting point for talks.
Shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel accused the prime minister of 'unpicking Brexit and planning another undemocratic hit job on British taxpayers by signing us up to a £1bn annual payment to the EU'. The row comes as Starmer attends the European Political Community summit in Armenia, where he plans to discuss closer ties with EU leaders.
Starmer is also seeking to join the EU’s €90bn loan scheme for Ukraine, which he argues would strengthen UK-EU relations and create British jobs. A European diplomat stated that 'if the UK wants further integration they must pay to play', drawing parallels with Switzerland, which pays €375m annually for privileged market access.
The prime minister has called for 'deeper economic integration' with the bloc, despite ruling out rejoining a customs union. Earlier this year, European leaders agreed that UK participation in the electricity single market would require financial contributions, and a permanent mechanism for appropriate payments has been proposed.
A government spokesperson declined to comment on ongoing negotiations, while Starmer reiterated in an Observer article that Brexit has damaged the economy and that Britain's national interest lies in closer ties with Europe.
