Labour has been on a diplomatic charm offensive with the EU (Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer’s charm offensive with the EU is failing to “cut through” despite being a Government priority, Brussels believes.
David Lammy became the first Foreign Secretary to attend the EU's Foreign Affairs Council for two years, hailing his visit as a "historic moment" as he arrived for the meeting on Monday morning.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Cabinet ministers told there is no more cash after backlash over spending plans
30 Comments
Ousted No10 adviser to miss key meeting despite taking up new role after being ousted
36 Comments
Keir Starmer could be about to betray Brexit - this is how he would do it
223 Comments
Fury as Keir Starmer plots to further weaken UK abroad after Chagos Island giveaway
117 Comments
MPs who flew '90,000 miles' to climate change conference insist 'we're not hypocrites'
43 Comments
Rishi Sunak's damning verdict on Keir Starmer as Labour chaos disrupts first 100 days
47 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of ‘weakening' Britain by pushing for UN Security Council reform
105 Comments
Keir Starmer issued devastating blow as GMB viewers have their say in landslide poll
154 Comments
Keir Starmer told he's ‘making it up as he goes along' at PMQs as he's met with groans
171 Comments
Labour minister squirms as she struggles to work out how to defend Keir Starmer's freebies
62 Comments
Former Google exec sends brutal dig to Keir Starmer over UK growth at his own summit
799 Comments
Labour civil war fears as minister refuses to deny Cabinet rifts over Rachel Reeves Budget
120 Comments
Labour civil war nears as Rayner and Reeves at loggerheads over social housebuilding funds
495 Comments
Moment Laura Kuenssberg leaves Labour minister squirming as she exposes huge blunder
457 Comments
UK to bury Brexit hatchet with EU as both sides seek to boost support for Ukraine
19 Comments
David Lammy told to slap down EU's new attempt to drag Britain closer and reverse Brexit
231 Comments
Keir Starmer's thin skin becomes evident during heated exchange with Rishi Sunak at PMQs
27 Comments
Keir Starmer met Taylor Swift at London concert after she was granted police escort
254 Comments
Keir Starmer is desperate for one thing - and it will terrify fishing communities
95 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour ministers furious as 'biggest tax raid in history' mooted
103 Comments
Cabinet ministers told there is no more cash after backlash over spending plans
30 Comments
Ousted No10 adviser to miss key meeting despite taking up new role after being ousted
36 Comments
Keir Starmer could be about to betray Brexit - this is how he would do it
223 Comments
Fury as Keir Starmer plots to further weaken UK abroad after Chagos Island giveaway
117 Comments
MPs who flew '90,000 miles' to climate change conference insist 'we're not hypocrites'
43 Comments
Rishi Sunak's damning verdict on Keir Starmer as Labour chaos disrupts first 100 days
47 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of ‘weakening' Britain by pushing for UN Security Council reform
105 Comments
Keir Starmer issued devastating blow as GMB viewers have their say in landslide poll
154 Comments
Keir Starmer told he's ‘making it up as he goes along' at PMQs as he's met with groans
171 Comments
Labour minister squirms as she struggles to work out how to defend Keir Starmer's freebies
62 Comments
Former Google exec sends brutal dig to Keir Starmer over UK growth at his own summit
799 Comments
Labour civil war fears as minister refuses to deny Cabinet rifts over Rachel Reeves Budget
120 Comments
Labour civil war nears as Rayner and Reeves at loggerheads over social housebuilding funds
495 Comments
Moment Laura Kuenssberg leaves Labour minister squirming as she exposes huge blunder
457 Comments
UK to bury Brexit hatchet with EU as both sides seek to boost support for Ukraine
19 Comments
David Lammy told to slap down EU's new attempt to drag Britain closer and reverse Brexit
231 Comments
Keir Starmer's thin skin becomes evident during heated exchange with Rishi Sunak at PMQs
27 Comments
Keir Starmer met Taylor Swift at London concert after she was granted police escort
254 Comments
Keir Starmer is desperate for one thing - and it will terrify fishing communities
95 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour ministers furious as 'biggest tax raid in history' mooted
103 Comments
Cabinet ministers told there is no more cash after backlash over spending plans
30 Comments
Ousted No10 adviser to miss key meeting despite taking up new role after being ousted
36 Comments
Keir Starmer could be about to betray Brexit - this is how he would do it
223 Comments
Fury as Keir Starmer plots to further weaken UK abroad after Chagos Island giveaway
117 Comments
MPs who flew '90,000 miles' to climate change conference insist 'we're not hypocrites'
43 Comments
Rishi Sunak's damning verdict on Keir Starmer as Labour chaos disrupts first 100 days
47 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of ‘weakening' Britain by pushing for UN Security Council reform
105 Comments
The trip, at the invitation of Josep Borrell, EU high representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, follows the Prime Minister's recent visit to Brussels where he pledged to move beyond Brexit and make the UK's relationship with the EU work for the British people.
But European officials are understood to privately believe that the diplomatic efforts haven’t yet led to concrete changes in policies.
Get the latest politics news straight to your phone Join us on WhatsApp Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
King Charles attended the PM's International Investment Summit on Monday (Image: Getty)
“It’s nice that they are visiting us and want to talk more, but we need substance,” an EU source told the i. “Britain doesn’t come up much here and won’t cut through when we have so much else on.”
Another European diplomatic source told i: “The EU side really appreciates the new tone coming from the UK Government, but there is still not much ‘flesh to the bone’ of the EU-UK reset.
“Officially no discussion on EU-UK relations is planned, but I could imagine everyone hoping that Lammy will present some outlines of what the UK wants.”
Sir Keir Starmer’s refusal to concede ground on a youth mobility scheme is seen by Brussels as an area where Labour is willing to realign with the bloc.
Brexiteers have warned such a move, however, would be the first step to taking the UK back into the EU’s orbit.
And Sir Keir is facing a split within his own party over the Government’s future relationship with the EU.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves on Monday slapped down Sadiq Khan’s hopes of discussing rejoining the single market.
The Mayor of London said: “The current Brexit deal we have comes up before review next year. I’m hoping, unlike last time, there will be closer alignment, rather than divergence.
Trending
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
“We should be looking at a whole host of issues and talking about them – whether it’s a youth mobility scheme, whether it’s seeing what we can do to bring people closer together.
“I think the reality is, in the short-term, we probably aren’t going to get back as members of the single market. But it’s something we shouldn’t be scared to talk about.”
But the Chancellor blasted back: “This is a Government that plans to stick to the manifesto we were elected on.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Cabinet ministers told there is no more cash after backlash over spending plans
30 Comments
Ousted No10 adviser to miss key meeting despite taking up new role after being ousted
36 Comments
Keir Starmer could be about to betray Brexit - this is how he would do it
223 Comments
Fury as Keir Starmer plots to further weaken UK abroad after Chagos Island giveaway
117 Comments
MPs who flew '90,000 miles' to climate change conference insist 'we're not hypocrites'
43 Comments
Rishi Sunak's damning verdict on Keir Starmer as Labour chaos disrupts first 100 days
47 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of ‘weakening' Britain by pushing for UN Security Council reform
105 Comments
Keir Starmer issued devastating blow as GMB viewers have their say in landslide poll
154 Comments
Keir Starmer told he's ‘making it up as he goes along' at PMQs as he's met with groans
171 Comments
Labour minister squirms as she struggles to work out how to defend Keir Starmer's freebies
62 Comments
Former Google exec sends brutal dig to Keir Starmer over UK growth at his own summit
799 Comments
Labour civil war fears as minister refuses to deny Cabinet rifts over Rachel Reeves Budget
120 Comments
Labour civil war nears as Rayner and Reeves at loggerheads over social housebuilding funds
495 Comments
Moment Laura Kuenssberg leaves Labour minister squirming as she exposes huge blunder
457 Comments
UK to bury Brexit hatchet with EU as both sides seek to boost support for Ukraine
19 Comments
David Lammy told to slap down EU's new attempt to drag Britain closer and reverse Brexit
231 Comments
Keir Starmer's thin skin becomes evident during heated exchange with Rishi Sunak at PMQs
27 Comments
Keir Starmer met Taylor Swift at London concert after she was granted police escort
254 Comments
Keir Starmer is desperate for one thing - and it will terrify fishing communities
95 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour ministers furious as 'biggest tax raid in history' mooted
103 Comments
Cabinet ministers told there is no more cash after backlash over spending plans
30 Comments
Ousted No10 adviser to miss key meeting despite taking up new role after being ousted
36 Comments
Keir Starmer could be about to betray Brexit - this is how he would do it
223 Comments
Fury as Keir Starmer plots to further weaken UK abroad after Chagos Island giveaway
117 Comments
MPs who flew '90,000 miles' to climate change conference insist 'we're not hypocrites'
43 Comments
Rishi Sunak's damning verdict on Keir Starmer as Labour chaos disrupts first 100 days
47 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of ‘weakening' Britain by pushing for UN Security Council reform
105 Comments
Keir Starmer issued devastating blow as GMB viewers have their say in landslide poll
154 Comments
Keir Starmer told he's ‘making it up as he goes along' at PMQs as he's met with groans
171 Comments
Labour minister squirms as she struggles to work out how to defend Keir Starmer's freebies
62 Comments
Former Google exec sends brutal dig to Keir Starmer over UK growth at his own summit
799 Comments
Labour civil war fears as minister refuses to deny Cabinet rifts over Rachel Reeves Budget
120 Comments
Labour civil war nears as Rayner and Reeves at loggerheads over social housebuilding funds
495 Comments
Moment Laura Kuenssberg leaves Labour minister squirming as she exposes huge blunder
457 Comments
UK to bury Brexit hatchet with EU as both sides seek to boost support for Ukraine
19 Comments
David Lammy told to slap down EU's new attempt to drag Britain closer and reverse Brexit
231 Comments
Keir Starmer's thin skin becomes evident during heated exchange with Rishi Sunak at PMQs
27 Comments
Keir Starmer met Taylor Swift at London concert after she was granted police escort
254 Comments
Keir Starmer is desperate for one thing - and it will terrify fishing communities
95 Comments
Angela Rayner among Labour ministers furious as 'biggest tax raid in history' mooted
103 Comments
Cabinet ministers told there is no more cash after backlash over spending plans
30 Comments
Ousted No10 adviser to miss key meeting despite taking up new role after being ousted
36 Comments
Keir Starmer could be about to betray Brexit - this is how he would do it
223 Comments
Fury as Keir Starmer plots to further weaken UK abroad after Chagos Island giveaway
117 Comments
MPs who flew '90,000 miles' to climate change conference insist 'we're not hypocrites'
43 Comments
Rishi Sunak's damning verdict on Keir Starmer as Labour chaos disrupts first 100 days
47 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of ‘weakening' Britain by pushing for UN Security Council reform
105 Comments
“We got a big majority at that election to implement what is in our manifesto, not to rewrite history and now say that we have a mandate to do something else. So our red lines are around the single market, the customs union and bringing back free movement, and we will stick to that manifesto.
“But we were also clear in our manifesto that we do want to reset relations and improve our trading relationships with our nearest neighbours and and trading partners.
“And at the moment, especially for small businesses that are the lifeblood of any economy, being able to import and export from countries that are nearest to us is unnecessarily burdensome and, as a result, many small businesses no longer export.”