UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned against spending time 'looking backwards' to Brexit, as he faces pressure to reconsider rejoining the European Union. Speaking at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, on Wednesday, Starmer reaffirmed his government's manifesto commitment not to re-enter the bloc, but noted 'real progress' in the relationship, which is 'slowly but surely building'.
Leadership Rivals Express Rejoin Hopes
Starmer's potential leadership rival Andy Burnham said last September he would like to see the UK rejoin the EU in his lifetime. Wes Streeting, the former health secretary and another likely leadership contender, called for a 'new special relationship' with the EU in a speech last month. When asked if he shared such desires, Starmer reiterated his commitment to the manifesto pledge, adding that the focus is on building a closer relationship.
EU-UK Reset Summit Confirmed
On Tuesday, Starmer confirmed that a 'reset' summit between the UK and EU will take place on 22 July in Brussels. The summit, delayed several times due to deadlock over a youth mobility scheme, aims to strengthen ties. European Council President António Costa emphasized the importance of close EU-UK cooperation for shared security, resilience, and prosperity.
Starmer highlighted his bilateral meeting with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and discussions with other European leaders on Ukraine as achievements. He stressed that progress comes from looking forward, not backward, and conducting diplomacy professionally and quietly.
