Starmer Working on ‘Closer Ties’ With EU

Work has “already begun” on forging “closer ties” with the EU, said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, adding that his administration would seek a “better deal” with the bloc. Sir Keir said on Sunday during a trip to Edinburgh that his new Labour government intends to “improve our relationship with the EU.” He said this means “closer trading ties with the EU, it means closer ties in relation to research and development and closer ties in relation to defence and security.” The prime minister went on to criticise former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “botched” trade agreement with the EU—the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which came into effect in May 2021—signalling that working on new arrangements could form some of the “many discussions” and negotiations his team are set to have with Brussels....