UK: Starmer Attends EU Meeting in First Since Brexit
The Facts
Sir Keir Starmer is to become the first UK Prime Minister to attend a gathering of European Union (EU) leaders since Brexit, joining an informal EU Council meeting in Brussels on Monday focused on defense and security cooperation.
Starmer will join the council at the Palais d'Egmont, for dinner, and will also separately meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the alliance's headquarters.
Invited to attend by European Council Pres. António Costa in Dec. 2024, the Prime Minister's office claims Starmer will propose a UK-EU defense and security partnership while "keeping within his red lines" of rejecting a return to the customs union, the single market, or freedom of movement with the European bloc.
The Spin
Left narrative
Starmer's push for closer ties with the EU is crucial for the UK's future. Post-Brexit realities have shown the economic and political challenges of distancing the UK from Europe. Strengthening trade links and security partnerships can boost the economy, enhance global cooperation, and protect against external threats. The UK needs a pragmatic approach that recognizes the value of a collaborative relationship with Europe.
Right narrative
Starmer's push for closer ties with the EU is a dangerous misstep. The EU’s economy is struggling, and aligning with it exposes the UK to further stagnation. With Trump's trade war looming, Starmer is recklessly positioning the UK on the wrong side. Instead of protecting British interests and respecting the referendum's result, he's pandering to Brussels, risking the UK's economic future in the pursuit of ideological self-interest.
