Starmer rejected what he called Sunak’s “defeatist” attitude towards renegotiation. “I do not accept that we can’t get a better deal than the one that we’ve got,” he insisted, as Sunak kept trying to explain – over and over again – that the European Union would not opt for a more generous deal unless immigration was put back on the table.
Starmer ruled out a more flexible immigration system with the bloc, while also proclaiming he’s “going to go back into the EU … to fight for a better deal so you can trade more easily”. The audience roared.
Is a can-do attitude really going to lead Brussels to open its doors to the single market and expect nothing in return? Is a cheery demeanor really going to allow the UK to take all the benefits of EU membership, no quid pro quo needed?
I suspect Sunak is right about immigration: Europe, after all, is coming under similar pressure on this issue as Westminster. And the bloc considers access to the single market as the utmost privilege: you only get it if you follow their rules to a tee.
Boris Johnson certainly showed up in Brussels with a bigger smile on his face than his predecessor, but he also compromised an awful lot, including giving up seamless trade within the UK. What will Starmer do once the costs of closer ties become clear?
This is a “tough decision” – the kind that requires statesmanship, negotiation and potentially political risk. Pick the wrong fight, make the wrong offer, and you may not come out on top. Just ask Theresa May.
Sarah Wilson is your guide to the latest trends, viral sensations, and internet phenomena. With a finger on the pulse of digital culture, she explores what’s trending across social media and pop culture, keeping readers in the know about the latest online sensations.
