How the press has reacted to Starmer’s Brexit reset
The British prime minister is in Europe meeting with leaders in Germany and France in an attempt to ‘reset’ the UK’s relationship with Europe following difficult years since Britain left the European Union. Starmer has stressed it’s a ‘reset’ not a ‘reversal’ of Brexit but many are hoping Starmer’s new treaty with Germany – that will address a wide range of issues including defence and trade – will help carve out a new path for the struggling British economy.
The prime minister will head to France next to meet with business leaders and French President Emmanuel Macron.
| World media reacts | |
|---|---|
| Thorny issue among the British Starmer has ruled out rejoining the EU to avoid reopening the thorny issue says France’s Le Monde | “Starmer has ruled out rejoining the European single market, customs union or freedom of movement – to avoid reopening what remains a thorny issue among British politicians and the public alike. But he does want to negotiate a new security pact with the bloc and a veterinary agreement to ease border checks on agricultural foods, as well as an improved trading deal.” |
| Not everything back on track yet London-Brussels friendship is valuable but more than goodwill is needed to reshape relations argues German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung | “Starmer needs to carefully consider every step towards the EU. … It is not only the usual suspects who are ready to throw a spanner in the works at every opportunity. Even within his own party, the prime minister is not exactly dealing with convinced liberals when it comes to trade and other such issues. The newly affirmed friendship between London and Berlin is of course valuable. However plenty of water is likely to flow along the Spree and the Thames before it materialises.” |
| Rebuilding trust with allies Starmer’s timing may be symbolic, says Germany’s DW | “Starmer has pledged to rebuild trust with European allies that was damaged by Brexit. His timing may be symbolic, as his Conservative predecessor, Rishi Sunak, waited 18 months before visiting Berlin.” |
| Thaw at last British newspaper The Independent welcomes the fact that the British Labour government is pushing for closer ties with the EU | “This is a moment for pro-Europeans to be optimistic. The direction of travel of British policy towards Europe has changed and is plainly again towards closer integration, the gravitational pull of the UK’s largest trading partner making itself felt once more. It will not be fast or strong enough to reverse the damage done by Brexit, but it will begin the inevitable process of re-engagement, with the economic imperatives being reinforced, and overshadowed, by increasingly acute security concerns.” |
| Paris will hinder rapprochement Germany and France have different interests, explains the British broadsheet The Times | “He [Scholz] is a personal ally and backchannel talks opened before Starmer won last month’s election but Scholz’s powers are limited. His political star has waned and Brussels, the wider EU, has key ‘offensive interests’ in any talks on easing post-Brexit trade with Labour. … As past prime ministers have found, export-driven Germany is always more open to easing trade friction. France, which sees opportunities to keep Britain out of European markets, will be aggressive in defence of the status quo.” |
| Eyes Beyond Europe. What’s the global view? | |
| Charming Berlin Starmer is keen to charm Berlin and timing is key as polls suggest Scholz’s time in office is numbered, that’s the American’s Politico take on the situation. | “Charming Berlin is seen as key to his bid to draw Britain back towards the bloc’s orbit — without being seen by Brexiteers back home as betraying the result of the eight-year-old referendum. Starmer and Scholz have already fired the starting gun on six months of negotiations for what Downing Street billed as an unprecedented new treaty covering trade, defence and security. “Starmer told the press conference he wants to move faster than that — wrapping up the treaty by the end of the year.” |
| Europe allies must fight far-right China Daily looks beyond the economy and focuses on the threat of the rising far-right across the UK, Germany and France. | “Starmer made the comments in Germany where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is expected to make big gains in regional polls on Sunday, dealing a blow to centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz.” |