Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed he will attend a summit with the European Union on July 22, seeking to forge closer ties with the bloc nearly a decade after the UK voted to leave. The summit, to be held in Brussels, marks the second such meeting under the Labour Government, which has pledged a "reset" in relations with the EU.
The Prime Minister, a vocal remainer during the 2016 referendum, has faced fierce criticism from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage, who have branded his approach a "betrayal" of the 17.4 million people who voted to leave. The Daily Express has also launched a campaign urging the Government to maximise Brexit freedoms.
Defending the move, Starmer posted on X: "Today I’ve agreed with @eucopresident that we will hold the second UK-EU summit on 22 July. My Labour Government is delivering on our promise to reset our relationship and put Britain at the heart of Europe. Together we will tackle the cost of living, boost jobs and create opportunities for young people."
European Council President Antonio Costa welcomed the summit, stating: "Close EU–UK co-operation is essential for our shared European security, resilience and prosperity. We are working closely together to make our upcoming second summit in Brussels on July 22 a success."
