Labour Leader Emphasises Future Cooperation on Prosperity and Security
Sir Keir Starmer has described his recent meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron as “constructive and positive,” amid growing concerns over the feasibility of his vision for a closer relationship with the EU. Starmer, the leader of the Labour Party, stated that the discussions focused on shared interests such as future prosperity and security, outlining his commitment to strengthen UK-France ties if Labour wins the next general election.
The two leaders exchanged gifts during their meeting, with Starmer presenting Macron with a personalised Arsenal football shirt and receiving cufflinks in return. Starmer explained that the talks covered a wide range of global political issues, underscoring the importance of UK-French cooperation for future challenges.
“We had a very constructive and positive meeting, covering many issues,” Starmer told reporters. “This was my chance to emphasise how much I value the relationship between our countries, particularly in areas like security and prosperity. If Labour is elected, we will strengthen this relationship even further.”
Despite this positive encounter, challenges remain in terms of future trade relations. Starmer has previously indicated that Labour would seek a “much better deal” with the EU, particularly focusing on reducing trade barriers through the Trade and Cooperation Agreement (TCA). However, experts from UK in a Changing Europe (UKICE) caution that renegotiating the TCA will be “very challenging,” as the EU is largely content with the current arrangement.
Anand Menon, director of UKICE, expressed doubts over Starmer’s approach, pointing out that while a desire for a better deal is clear, Labour must offer the EU a compelling reason to reopen negotiations. “The EU is not prioritising the UK in its current dealings, and Labour must refine its proposals to present a more coherent and realistic plan,” Menon stated.
During his visit to Paris, Starmer was accompanied by shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and shadow foreign secretary David Lammy. The Labour leader also met with French business leaders, reiterating his party’s ambition to foster stronger economic ties post-Brexit. He is expected to address a gathering of business representatives, promising that a Labour government would “invest” in the Franco-British relationship.
At the same time, Labour’s shadow defence secretary, John Healey, is in Washington DC, calling for enhanced UK-US cooperation on democratic resilience. Healey’s proposal includes the creation of a new “democratic resilience centre” to monitor and protect shared values, signalling Labour’s broader vision for global security.
This visit is part of a wider strategy to raise Labour’s international profile ahead of the next UK general election, with Starmer having already engaged with global leaders, including Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and officials at Europol in The Hague. The Labour leader’s international outreach underscores his ambition to strengthen the UK’s role on the world stage post-Brexit.
