6 d. ago The Guardian view on UK attitudes to Europe: Labour is following where it could be leading | Editorial

There are signs of ministerial courage in making the case for closer ties to our neighbours, but the government could go further and fasterBritain’s relationship with the European Union was not a prominent issue in national debate when Sir Keir Starmer became prime minister, and Downing Street has striven to keep it that way. Labour strategists have seen Europe as a fissile topic, and Sir Keir’s opposition to Brexit in the 2016 referendum as a liability with swing voters. The prime minister has moved Britain closer to Europe, but in timid increments. The summit that formally “reset” relations early this year was long on statements of ambition, but short on substance. The government’s private recognition that economic logics impel Britain back into a European orbit has been in constant tension with fear of making that case in public.The balance now appears to be shifting. In a speech on Wednesday, Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister responsible for EU relations, made the...

Politics

7 d. ago Starmer’s EU negotiator gives stronger backing to youth mobility scheme

Nick Thomas-Symonds indicates closer ties with Europe in future and promises to agree agriculture dealUK politics live – latest updatesKeir Starmer’s lead negotiator on Europe has enthused about how excited he is by the prospect of an EU youth mobility scheme, as he signalled a broader government shift towards embracing closer ties with the bloc.Nick Thomas-Symonds, the Cabinet Office minister in charge of negotiating Britain’s relationship with the EU, said on Wednesday he was looking forward to signing a deal to let young people travel and work more freely across Europe. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Starmer's Brexit chief will pledge to lock Britain into CLOSER ties with the EU

In a major speech on future relations with Brussels on Wednesday, Nick Thomas-Symonds will claim that closer alignment with EU rules is a 'necessary step' to boost economic growth.

Politics

3 w. ago New Zealand and Australia seek closer military ties following Chinese live

New Zealand and Australia are discussing closer military cooperation following recent Chinese military exercises near their shores

Events

3 w. ago Are Trump’s tariffs pushing rivals India and China closer together?

Trump’s targeting of India with hefty tariffs and closer ties with Pakistan could cost him a powerful ally in the Asia-Pacific region, reports Alisha Rahaman Sarkar

Politics

4 w. ago Voices: ‘The whole tax system needs radical reform’: Readers weigh in on Reeves’ fiscal trilemma

Our community is split on how Rachel Reeves should resolve her fiscal trilemma, with readers divided between raising taxes, cutting spending, relaxing borrowing rules or boosting growth through closer EU ties

Politics

4 w. ago Brexit has been a resounding disaster. Starmer must find the courage to change course | Ed Davey

Poll after poll shows most voters think leaving the EU has been a failure. Closer ties with Europe would bring huge rewardsBrexit isn’t working, and the British people know it. Poll after poll, including that unveiled this weekend by More In Common for the Sunday Times, shows that people are feeling the terrible damage caused by the deal forced upon us by Boris Johnson, Kemi Badenoch and the rest of the Conservative party, and want something different. The latest shows less than a third of Britons would vote to leave the EU if a referendum were repeated. There’s no doubt that fundamental change is needed. There’s no doubt the public will is there to make it happen. The question is: will Keir Starmer seize the moment and deliver it?There are big prizes on offer if he does. Giving our economy the boost it desperately needs, pulling it out of the cycle of low growth and high debt that the Conservatives plunged us into. Helping to raise more funding to lift our NHS and other public serv...

Events