Shortly after Labour came to power in July, David Lammy, the new British Foreign Secretary, announced a “reset” of UK-EU relations.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed that sentiment at a NATO summit briefing earlier this month, saying he hoped to reset Britain’s relationship with the EU on issues ranging from migration to security to agricultural trade.
At a press conference, Starmer said: “This is a reset of our relationship. I think for many, many people, after Brexit, there was a sense that the UK had become too inward-looking.”
On migration, Starmer has set out an approach to tackling illegal migration by cracking down on the people-smuggling gangs behind the process.
David Lammy, the new British Foreign Secretary, has announced a “reset” of UK-EU relations
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The Labour Party’s manifesto calls for the creation of a new Border Security Command comprising hundreds of specialist investigators, border police officers and intelligence officers.
The government plans to use the money saved from abandoning the policy in Rwanda to “pursue, disrupt and arrest those responsible for this vile trade.”
At the summit he also announced £84 million for Africa and the Middle East to tackle the root causes of illegal immigration.
After trips to Germany, Poland and Sweden, David Lammy said the talks were “just the beginning” of Labour’s efforts to rebuild Britain’s relationship with the bloc.
He said: “Over the centuries, our individual and national histories have come together to tell a larger story of shared progress. Today, we all share a commitment to democracy, human rights and international law.”
“The tragic experiences of our continent’s shared past have helped us understand how our common security and prosperity depend on these shared values. And I believe that these values also provide a basis for a closer partnership in the future.
“My visit this weekend is just the beginning. I look forward to seeing Britain reconnect with its European neighbours in the years to come.”
As the Labour government strengthens its ties with the EU, questions are being raised about what European migration schemes the UK could be included in.
Ben Habib, former co-deputy leader of Reform UK, has warned against Labour joining the EU’s resettlement and humanitarian admissions scheme.
He said: “Starmer is going to put us on the EU resettlement scheme for illegal migrants. This is Brussels’ answer to its own stupid open borders policy.
“Instead of securing Europe, illegal migrants will be distributed according to quotas in EU countries. Brussels is legalizing illegal immigration.”
The resettlement programme provides for “the admission of third-country nationals in need of international protection from a third country to which they have been displaced to an EU country where they are granted protection”, according to the European Commission.
Ben Habib warned: ‘Starmer will sign us up to EU illegal migrant resettlement programme’
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LATEST MEMBERSHIP UPDATE:
Under the EU Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Scheme 2024-2025, 14 EU countries have committed to resettle 61,000 people.
In 2015, then Home Secretary Theresa May said Britain would not take part in the resettlement programme.
She argued that people should not be encouraged to undertake perilous journeys to Europe, which is “why the UK will not participate in a compulsory resettlement or relocation system”.
Speaking at the European Union summit last week, Starmer ruled out a return deal with the EU.
He said: “As far as a return agreement is concerned, I have always said that we will not be part of the EU programme. This is about EU members. We are not a member of the EU. We have never wanted, asked or sought to be part of this programme and we will not be part of it.”
