‘He wanted us to Remain at any cost!’ ERG Chair Mark Francois ‘worried’ as Keir Starmer holds post-Brexit talks

"I've always said that Starmer remains a Remainer," Francois told Tom Harwood.

"I sat in Parliament week after week for over two years and watched Starmer conspire with people all around the House to try and keep us in the EU at almost any cost."

Francois added that he was cautious about Starmer's intentions, given the Labour leader's past calls for a second referendum.

Keir Starmer is set to meet with top EU officials in Brussels on Wednesday, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The visit aims to establish a "more pragmatic and mature relationship" with the EU, according to Starmer's statement.

The Labour leader will also hold talks with European Council President Charles Michel and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola. A European Commission spokesperson described the meeting as "the beginning of a conversation" on potential ways forward.

Starmer has emphasised his determination to "put the Brexit years behind us" and focus on tackling international challenges through collective efforts with European partners.

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Starmer has ruled out rejoining the EU's single market, customs union, or freedom of movement arrangements. However, he seeks to improve relations in specific areas.

The Labour leader aims to negotiate a new veterinary agreement to reduce border checks and push for mutual recognition of certain professional qualifications.

Starmer is also focused on delivering a "broad-based security pact" with the EU and addressing barriers to trade.

Despite the warmer tone, both sides acknowledge that substantive changes to the relationship will require tough negotiations, even as the main tenets of the Brexit settlement remain untouched.

Pro-EU campaigners are urging Starmer to reconsider his stance on youth mobility. The European Commission has proposed a scheme allowing 18 to 30-year-olds to live and work in each other's territories for up to four years.

Sir Nick Harvey, chief executive of European Movement UK, said: "Dismissing the idea of reciprocal youth mobility simply means letting down British young people, who face all sorts of economic difficulties and have seen their horizons curtailed by Brexit."

Cal Roscow from Best for Britain added: "The new government has the chance to give these formative experiences back to young Brits, with this universally popular scheme that the European Commission is already open to agreeing."