Keir Starmer faces backlash for creating a team aimed at reshaping the UK’s relationship with the EU, with critics fearing it could lead to a permanent return to EU rule-taking

Keir Starmer is under fire for allegedly plotting a “Brexit betrayal” by forming a 100-strong civil service team to reset the UK’s relationship with the European Union, sparking concerns that the UK’s newfound freedoms post-Brexit could be lost forever.

Sources have revealed that the team, set to operate from the Cabinet Office, will spearhead negotiations with Brussels, with critics warning that its real aim is to undo the 2016 referendum result. The Labour leader’s critics argue that the initiative will turn the UK into a permanent rule-taker from the EU, surrendering key powers that were regained during Brexit.

The new task force, which insiders suggest will have sweeping powers to demand resources from every corner of Whitehall, is being billed as an effort to reset the UK’s relationship with the EU, but the timing and scale of the operation have raised alarm bells. It is believed that the ultimate goal is to secure concessions from the EU so substantial that they will be nearly impossible to reverse by any future government, particularly a Conservative one.

Key critics, including Kemi Badenoch, have slammed the initiative as a step backwards. Badenoch, the Conservative Minister for International Trade, pointed out that Starmer has a history of giving away vital concessions without gaining anything in return. “The question now is, what price will we all pay for the Prime Minister to take us back to his EU comfort zone?” she said, highlighting her concerns over Labour’s approach.

The criticism was further fuelled by Lord Frost, former Brexit negotiator under Boris Johnson, who claimed that Labour’s long-term aim is to rejoin the EU. Frost argued that the creation of the “surrender squad” is an attempt to quietly realign the UK with EU laws, particularly concerning fisheries and trade. “Everyone in this Government really wants to rejoin the EU one day. Only public opinion is stopping them,” Frost said, adding that the plans would ultimately result in the UK losing the ability to govern independently.

In the coming months, Starmer is expected to meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and other EU leaders to discuss the future of UK-EU relations. However, Brussels is said to be preparing a list of demands before talks on closer trade ties can begin. Among the key stipulations are freedom of movement for young people, acceptance of EU laws, and continued access for European boats to British waters post-2026.

The EU blueprint presented to European ministers suggests that the UK must agree to maintain the status quo on access for European fishing boats before trade discussions can move forward. Additionally, the EU is reportedly insisting on the UK abiding by rulings from the European Court of Justice, a condition that would undermine the UK’s sovereignty and its ability to set independent laws.

A government spokesperson has attempted to calm concerns, stating that the reset is focused on strengthening cooperation with the EU in areas like security and economic growth, but reiterated that the UK will never return to the customs union, the single market, or freedom of movement.

As the debate over the future of Brexit intensifies, the creation of Starmer’s “surrender squad” continues to divide opinion. For some, it marks the beginning of a dangerous shift towards EU re-engagement, while for others, it is a pragmatic attempt to rebuild fractured ties with Brussels.

THE TELEGRAPH

Boris Johnson has accused Sir Keir Starmer of deceiving Brexit voters by setting up a new unit aimed at deepening ties with the EU, claiming it proves the Labour leader took voters for fools during the election. Johnson, writing in the Daily Mail, criticised Labour for not being transparent about its desire for closer EU relations, asserting that Starmer had no mandate to establish what he called a “Whitehall Surrender Squad.” He argued that Starmer’s push for renegotiation with the EU and the economic policies of his government, including tax increases, were leading the country in the wrong direction. Johnson also emphasised that Labour’s approach undermined the freedoms voters had sought in the 2016 Brexit referendum. He urged those who value democracy and the UK’s sovereignty to continue fighting for the freedoms secured in the Brexit vote.

EXPRESS

Boris Johnson has launched a scathing attack on Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour Party, accusing them of deceiving the British public over Brexit. Johnson’s criticism follows reports that Starmer’s government has set up a unit, which some have dubbed a “Whitehall Surrender Squad,” to renegotiate the UK’s relationship with the European Union. In a column for The Daily Mail, Johnson claimed that millions of voters went to the polls in July 2024 believing that Labour would protect Brexit, but it has now become clear that Starmer had no intention of respecting the 2016 referendum result.

Johnson argued that Starmer’s promise to uphold Brexit was a “bare-faced lie,” and that the Labour leader had taken the public for fools. He pointed out that Starmer had explicitly pledged that under a Labour government, the UK would not rejoin the single market or the customs union, nor would free movement for EU nationals be reintroduced. However, Johnson accused Labour of secretly planning to move the UK back into the EU’s orbit, undermining the very principles of Brexit.

Johnson also took aim at Starmer’s handling of economic policies, citing Labour’s tax rises and suggesting they had already stifled economic growth. He stressed that Starmer had no mandate for these changes and had betrayed the trust of those who voted for Brexit. The former prime minister called on the public to resist these moves, urging them to fight for the freedoms they secured in 2016. Johnson’s comments reflect growing concerns among Brexit supporters that Labour’s approach threatens to undo the referendum result.