Keir Starmer publicly hits back at Wes Streeting as EU plot seen as 'early shot' leadership challenge

In the interview with The Observer, Mr Streeting said the best way to boost the British economy would be a "closer trading relationship" with the EU, which led to some accusing the Ilford North MP of advocating for Britain to rejoin the customs union.

Now, a Downing Street spokesman has said Sir Keir will stick to his "red lines" of not rejoining a customs union with the EU.

Labour MP for Blackley & Middleton South Graham Stringer suggested Mr Streeting’s comments could be "an early shot in what might be a leadership election".

He told Times Radio: "I think it’s a very complicated issue and it’s just Wes being opportunistic knowing that, I think, nearly 30 per cent of the Labour Party membership is in London, and most of those people seem to be in favour of rejoining the EU."

When asked about the Health Secretary's comments, a Downing Street spokesman said: "We have been very open about the need to reset our relationship with the EU and strengthen that relationship while sticking to our red lines, and that position has been consistent."

The Prime Minister has warned that rejoining the customs union would undo trade deals Britain has struck with the US and India.

A customs union would see the UK get access to tariff-free trade with the bloc, while having to accept common standards for traded goods.

Mr Streeting told The Observer: "The reason why leaving the EU hit us so hard as a country is because of the enormous economic benefits that came with being in the single market and the customs union. This is a country and a Government that wants a closer trading relationship with Europe.

"The challenge is any economic partnership we have can’t lead to a return to freedom of movement."

A Government source accused Mr Streeting of "setting out his stall" for a leadership bid in his Observer interview, according to the Times.

Responding to Mr Streeting’s comments, a Conservative Party spokesman said: "Instead of focusing on running the health service, Wes Streeting is busy courting left-wing, pro-EU Labour Party members, now even floating the idea of dragging Britain back into the EU’s customs union.

"Patients and NHS staff deserve a Health Secretary focused on delivery, not political pitch-making."

Reform UK's Deputy Leader Richard Tice said: "Starmer’s so-called 'reset' deal was already a shameful betrayal of what people voted for in 2016 and now we’ve heard it straight from the horse’s mouth.

"Labour Remoaners like Wes Streeting will not be satisfied until every valuable Brexit freedom is surrendered directly to Brussels.”

Polling by YouGov published last weekend suggested that 80 per cent of those who voted for Labour in 2024 support negotiating a customs union deal with the EU.

Meanwhile, 73 per cent of Labour and Green Party voters backed talks to rejoin the EU entirely.

According to the poll, 70 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters and 25 per cent of Conservative voters at last year's General Election think the UK should reverse Brexit.

Just 10 per cent of Reform UK voters think the UK should rejoin the bloc.

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