KEIR STARMER URGES UK TO DEEPEN EUROPEAN TIES

Former prime minister Keir Starmer has urged the UK to deepen its ties with Europe, arguing that changes in its relationship with the US will last beyond Donald Trump’s presidency. He spoke at a British Irish Chamber of Commerce dinner at Dublin City Hall on Friday, in his first significant political intervention since leaving Downing Street. “A stronger Europe is vital and the UK must be at the heart of it,” he told the audience. Starmer said Europe needed a common security framework as well as a common market. He argued that the US would no longer “bankroll” European security.

Starmer linked his call to Russia’s attack on Ukraine, saying it had exposed longstanding European weaknesses in defence and security. He said Europe had been “caught asleep” twice, citing that attack and Trump’s position on US support. Starmer described the change in relations with Washington as permanent and said, “Things will not go back to the way they were before.” He also said the military, security and intelligence alliance with the US remained strong.

Starmer stepped down as prime minister in July, having called for closer European ties while in office. Three months earlier, amid Trump’s war with Iran and threats to withdraw from Nato, he described Europe as a “partnership for a dangerous world we must navigate together”. Before Friday’s speech, Starmer met senior business leaders and politicians in Dublin, including taoiseach Micheál Martin. Starmer and Martin established the annual UK-Ireland summit. Starmer also called for closer economic cooperation and said Brexit had done “deep damage” to the UK economy.