Britain’s prime minister appears to be edging towards closer alignment with Brussels, despite the firm mandate for leaving the European Union established at the 2016 referendum and in subsequent national elections.
The pretext for a surrender deal is President Trump’s tariffs, which—ironically for Starmer, given his willingness to make concessions to Brussels—currently hit the EU harder than the British economy. Nevertheless, all the indicators suggest that a defence and security pact is likely to be finalised at the EU-UK summit in London on May 19th.
Within this, greater dynamic alignment to the EU economy would be the norm. This would also coincide with reductions in British territorial fishing rights, where Brussels is negotiating a tough deal, and the introduction of a ‘youth’ mobility scheme for the under-30s—which many suspect will pave the way to the return of free movement.
Not for the first time, Starmer looks set to urge a major ‘reset’ deal with the EU, this time with a May deadline in mind.
