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‘We can do so much better’: Starmer’s ex-Brexit minister on pushing closer ties with EU
Nick Thomas-Symonds, Keir Starmer’s former Brexit minister, has argued that closer UK-EU ties would benefit both sides amid Russia’s war in Ukraine and Donald Trump’s stance on Nato. He backed Andy Burnham’s push to rebuild relations and said the changed international situation makes cooperation on security and prosperity more important.
Burnham is due to meet EU leaders in Brussels on 20 November to sign a Brexit reset deal, expected to cover alignment on food and drink rules, student exchanges through Erasmus and a youth mobility scheme. The agreement could lead to wider debate about further changes, potentially including EU membership, though Labour’s current commitments rule out rejoining the customs union or single market and restoring freedom of movement. Thomas-Symonds said the government would have begun a similar debate after the summit.
In short
- Thomas-Symonds says closer EU ties could benefit both sides.
- A reset deal is expected to address food rules, students and youth mobility.
- Wider changes may be debated, but Labour’s current red lines remain.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Closer UK-EU ties could strengthen cooperation on security and prosperity at a time of heightened uncertainty over Russia’s war in Ukraine and US commitment to Nato. Aligning some rules and expanding student and youth exchanges may bring practical benefits, and supporters argue that the changed international context justifies openly considering further cooperation.
The case against
Closer ties could limit the UK’s freedom to set its own rules and make policy, while commitments such as regulatory alignment may create costs or obligations whose benefits are uncertain. Critics could also argue that the proposed reset should not become a route towards integration on questions such as the customs union, single market or free movement, which Labour has ruled out and voters may not support.
Explained simply
The UK left the European Union in 2020, ending its membership of the bloc’s shared political and economic arrangements. Since then, the two sides have agreed new rules for trade and cooperation, while debate has continued over how closely they should work together.
Keir Starmer’s Labour government has ruled out rejoining the EU’s customs union or single market, and restoring free movement between the UK and EU. Andy Burnham is the mayor of Greater Manchester, while Nick Thomas-Symonds previously served as the government’s minister for relations with the EU.
Russia’s war in Ukraine and uncertainty over US support for Nato have sharpened attention on European security. The UK and EU are both involved in supporting Ukraine, and their future relationship affects cooperation on security as well as trade, education and movement between countries.
Europe Government Politics UK World