Starmer Signals preference for Single Market Alignment Over Customs Union

Closer ties with the EU single market are preferable to a customs union, Keir Starmer has said, in his clearest sign yet that the government is seeking to further deepen links with Brussels.

the prime minister said the UK should consider “even closer alignment” with the single market. “If it’s in our national interest … then we should consider that, we should go that far,” he told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg.

In a riposte to some cabinet colleagues who have suggested the UK should seek to form a customs union with the EU, Starmer said he did not think that was the answer.

“We are better looking to the single market rather than the customs union for our further alignment,” he said.

The health secretary, Wes Streeting, and the justice secretary, David Lammy, have both suggested the UK could get economic benefits from a new customs deal – as has the TUC general secretary, Paul nowak.

Starmer said that much had changed in the last few years, including the signing of new trade deals under Labour. “I argued for a customs union for many years with the EU, but a lot of water has now gone under the bridge,” he said.

“I do understand why people are saying: ‘Wouldn’t it be better to go to the customs union?’ I actually think that now we’ve done deals with the US which are in our national interest, now we’ve done deals with India which are in our national interest, we are better looking to the single market rather than the customs union for our further alignment.”

he said there would be no return to EU freedom of movement rights as part of any future negotiations, but defended the deal for a youth mobility scheme. “We are looking at a youth mobility scheme which will be for young people to travel, to work, to enjoy themselves in different European countries, to have that experience.”

Starmer has given hints in recent months he would like to revisit strengthening ties with the EU. In November, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the minister in charge of EU negotiations, was promoted to full cabinet rank.

Minouche Shafik, the prime minister’s economic adviser, is among those close to Starmer who have suggested