Labour leader Keir Starmer has quietly begun advancing efforts to strengthen the United Kingdom’s relationship with the European Union, focusing on pragmatic areas of cooperation despite political sensitivities surrounding Brexit. This approach seeks to rebuild certain connections to the EU single market, particularly in trade sectors that require close regulatory alignment.
One significant move in this direction is the commitment made in Labour’s recent manifesto to negotiate a sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement between the UK and the EU. This pact would govern trade and movement in “agrifoods” such as livestock, dairy, fish, plants, and other organic products. The framework for this agreement was tentatively outlined at last year’s UK-EU summit, which also gave rise to the broader UK-EU Strategic Partnership. A corresponding law anticipated in the King’s Speech would empower ministers to adopt specific EU rules in targeted areas to facilitate this arrangement.
Beyond agrifoods, Starmer’s team has sought to reengage with Europe on several fronts that, while not all strictly related to the single market, are integral to cross-border cooperation. These include integration of electricity markets, establishment of youth work experience schemes, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, coordination of irregular migration controls, and collaboration on defense and security issues.
The political calculus behind this measured rapprochement considers the challenges of replicating models like Switzerland’s bilateral agreements with the EU. Since the 1990s, the Swiss approach has required continuous renegotiation of more than 120 sector-specific accords to keep pace with evolving EU regulations. The European Commission has expressed reluctance to extend similarly complex arrangements to a country as large and unpredictable as the UK. Furthermore, Switzerland’s participation in the passport-free Schengen Area and acceptance of free movement for EU workers remain politically contentious issues for many British voters, limiting the feasibility of fully mirroring that model.
If Labour succeeds in forming the next government, regional mayor Andy Burnham is expected to carry forward this engagement agenda, reportedly with strong backing from Labour MPs. Preparations are underway for the upcoming annual UK-EU summit, where further bespoke cooperation measures may be discussed.
Longer-term, demographic changes appear to be influencing Labour’s pro-EU tilt. Voters who supported leaving the EU in 2016 have aged or shifted their views, while younger generations tend to favour closer European ties, as reflected in multiple polls. Some political observers suggest that the 2016 referendum, narrowly decided by 52-48 percent, may have been a fleeting opportunity to exit the EU—a decision unlikely to be revisited in the same way due to evolving public opinion. As a result, political leaders may eventually have to adapt their policies to these generational shifts.