SIR Keir Starmer was today accused of trying to drag Britain back into the EU after being caught on camera admitting Labour “don’t want to diverge” from Brussels rules.
The Labour chief made the bombshell comments at a conference for lefty leaders in Canada this month.
1
Footage published by Sky News today shows Sir Keir declaring that while Britain wouldn’t formally re-join the block, its relationship with Brussels should be much closer.
He said: “Most of the conflict with the UK being outside of the UK [sic] arises in so far as the UK wants to diverge and do different things to the rest of our EU partners,”
“Obviously the more we share values, the more we share a future together, the less the conflict. And actually different ways of solving problems become available.
“Actually we don’t want to diverge, we don’t want to lower standards, we don’t want to rip up environmental standards, working standards for people that work, food standards and all the rest of it.”
The comments are a significant shift from the Labour boss’ more cautious public statements about EU relations.
Responding to the footage, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly blasted: “Keir voted Remain.
“Then he backed a second referendum. Then he didn’t.
“Now he wants to rejoin the EU in all but name.
“What does Labour stand for?”
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: “I think those kinds of comments about not wanting to diverge will worry a lot of people that what he really wants to do is to unpick Brexit.”
Former cabinet minister Simon Clarke added: “Britain is more than a rule-taker.
“This was the fundamental point of the whole 2017-19 Parliament, and the basis on which the last election was fought.
“Keir Starmer clearly still believes otherwise.”
It comes as just last week Sir Keir was left firefighting accusations he’d allow thousands of illegal migrants who arrive in Europe to enter the UK under a returns agreement with Brussels.
A Labour spokesperson said: “We’re not joining the single market or the customs union.
“We will not be in a situation where we are a rule taker.”
