The EU will breathe a "sigh of relief” if Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer wins the upcoming general election, Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Hilary Benn has claimed.
Benn, formerly a vocal Remainer, also appeared to suggest Labour should seek closer ties with the Brussels bloc if Rishi Sunak is ousted from Downing Street.
Speaking at the Fabian Society conference, Benn said: “Brexit has of course affected politics in the UK. But it’s also affected politics in the European Union.
“The EU is a bit tired of negotiating with Britain. They’ve got lots of other things on their plate.
Labour leader Keir Starmer with an inset of Ursula von der Leyen and Hilary Benn
GETTY
“And we have to recognise that while the EU has loads of experience of negotiating agreements with countries coming towards it, never before has it had to do a deal … with a big country that’s walked out.
“Now I am a great believer in the healing qualities of time. And there is no doubt that the arrival of a Labour Government, if we win … will be greeted in the EU with a big and audible sigh of relief.”
The Leeds Central MP, whose father Tony Benn was an ardent Eurosceptic, added: “I think eventually there is going to be a moment when we look at each other across the Channel and say ‘you know what, we’re still big and important trading partners, we’re still friends and allies, we are co-operating on foreign policy and security and we need to do more of that … so wouldn’t it make sense to have a closer relationship?’
“And why does this matter so much? Well, clearly it matters economically but there’s something else that is even more important, and that is building alliances in a dangerous world.”
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Sir Keir Starmer PADespite Benn's comments on Britain's relationship with the Brussels bloc, Starmer has actively steered clear of re-running the Brexit debate.
The Leader of the Opposition, who served as Jeremy Corbyn's second-referendum-supporting Shadow Brexit Secretary, ruled out the UK rejoning the single market and customs union.
However, Conservative MPs have warned Starmer could threaten the UK's newfound sovereignty after the Labour leader voiced concern about diverging from EU rules.
Housing Secretary Michael Gove, who was a leading figure in the Vote Leave campaign, claimed the remarks revealed "the real Keir Starmer" as he argued the lawyer-turned-politician wanted to "re-run the Brexit agonies of the past".
Brexit-backing Home Secretary James Cleverly claimed it showed Starmer "wants to rejoin the EU in all but name".
Rishi Sunak was in the North West
PA
Responding to his Conservative critics at the time, the Labour leader said: "We will not be a rule-taker. The rules and laws of this country will be made in Parliament according to the national interest.
"But that does not mean that a Labour Government wants to lower standards on food, wants to lower standards on people's rights at work."
Benn's comments about Labour's chances of winning the next general election come after an opinion poll suggested the Tories face a 1997-style wipeout.
It suggested Labour would win 385 seats, with the Conservative Party returning just 169 MPs to Westminster.
GB News has approached the Labour Party for comment.