Starmer’s cautious five-point plan to ‘make Brexit work’
Spectator (UK)Dec 29, 2022
Keir Starmer Announces Support for Brexit Resolution
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Image copyright: Getty Images [via The Telegraph]
The Facts
Leader of the opposition, Sir Keir Starmer, has stated that the UK "will not go back into the EU" under a Labour government, vowing to "move on arguments of the past" and "make Brexit work."
While ruling out any return to the single market or customs union during a speech at the Centre for European Reform on Mon., Starmer claimed that he could remove trade and travel barriers and foster a better and more trusting relationship with the EU than Boris Johnson.
The Spin
Right narrative
Starmer's announcement reveals clear tension within the Labour party and could even spark a potential revolt. Despite the strongest signal yet that he desires to steer the party away from the Remain camp, a plethora of high-ranking Labour members have come out in direct opposition to Starmer, highlighting the reality of his weak and tenuous leadership mandate.
Left narrative
Many, including former Labour leader Tony Blair, have criticized Starmer and questioned what the Labour Party stands for under his guidance. He's now showing strength and direction, not only in providing a clear five-point plan for Labour's stance on the EU, but also in scrutinizing the weakness of Boris Johnson's premiership and his incompetence over the complexities raised by Brexit, especially the Northern Ireland protocol.
