SIR Keir Starmer faces a major backlash after insisting Britain must “keep moving” towards closer ties with Brussels after downgrades to growth figures at the Budget.
The Prime Minister outlined how the UK mist “confront the reality” that the economy has suffered after leaving the European Union as he scrambles to stronger links.
His intervention came while he was defending his Chancellor Rachel Reeves over accusations she misled the public over the state of the public finances.
Sir Keir risked provoking fury that the UK must carry on “reducing frictions” with the bloc following the decision to leave the EU back in 2016.
Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffith said: “This is a turn back the clock government.
“On union rights and now cosying up to Brussels, there is no vision or fresh thinking. Just bowing to socialist backbench prejudice.”
He added: “Having close relations with our neighbours and economic partners, including the EU, is important – but at what cost?
“Since taking office Labour have bowed down to the EU’s demands at every step of the way, giving away our fishing rights and aligning us to Brussel’s red tape whilst getting nothing in return.
“The public deserve a government will stand up for British interests and British business, not a Prime Minister with no backbone and no plan. Only the Conservatives will deliver a stronger economy.”
Reform Deputy Leader Richard Tice said: “Sir Keir Starmer is on the ropes and flailing around for a solution to the many issues his woeful government is facing.
“Handcuffing us even more closely to the EU is not the answer. If you want to know how much of a disaster this would be, just look at the economies of France and Germany.
“The UK voted to escape the EU bureaucracy and their burdensome regulations.
“We should be diverging, not aligning. This is a betrayal of what we voted for and Reform will fight this every step of the way.”
Both the UK and EU signed a deal back in May that covered areas such as defence, fishing and trade and also pointed to a youth mobility scheme.
Sir Keir, speaking in central London, said: “Let me be crystal clear, there is no credible economic vision for Britain that does not position us as an open, trading economy.
“So we must all now confront the reality that the Brexit deal we have significantly hurt our economy and so for economic renewal, we have to keep reducing frictions.
“We have to keep moving towards a closer relationship with the EU, and we have to be grown up about that, to accept that this will require trade-offs.
“That applies to our trading relations right across the world, and as you’ve seen already with this Government, there are deals to be done if you’re committed to building relationships.
“That’s what we’ve done with the US, it’s what we’ve done with India, and it’s what we’ve done with the EU and we will keep going.
“We will continue to reject drift, to confront reality and take control of our future.”
At the Budget, the Office for Budget Responsibility predicted growth of 1.5 per cent for 2025 which is up from the 1 per cent forecast earlier this year.
But growth has been lowered to 1.4 per cent next year and then 1.5 per cent in the following four years.
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