Polish PM says he wants Breturn not Brexit as Starmer visits Warsaw
Sir Keir Starmer has repeatedly ruled out rejoining the customs union or single market, but that did not stop the premier of Poland pushing for Britain’s return the EU.
Mr Tusk, who was president of the European Council when Britain voted to leave the trading bloc, said he would “harbour these dreams in my heart” as “sometimes they come true in politics”.
Post-Brexit ties with Brussels
The UK prime minister, who had a bilateral meeting with his Polish counterpart earlier on Friday, has repeatedly ruled out rejoining the customs union or single market but said he wants to deepen post-Brexit ties with Brussels.
Polish PM says he wants Breturn
Polish PM says he wants ‘Breturn’ not Brexit as Starmer visits Warsaw.
Standing alongside Sir Keir at a joint press conference afterwards, Mr Tusk said: “I’m sure you will recall when we learned about the results of the Brexit referendum.
“My first emotional reaction was to say: ‘I already miss you.’ I remember our press briefings as if it was yesterday. I already miss you, that’s what I said.
During the press conference, Sir Keir did not go into detail about Brexit, but stressed the need for close cooperation among European allies on issues including people smuggling and security.
He did however exchange warm words with his counterpart, telling Mr Tusk: “Poland currently holds the presidency of the EU Council.
He added: “We share an unbreakable commitment to Nato and an unbreakable commitment to Ukraine.”
Sir Keir also met Polish president Andrzej Duda, with whom he agreed that Ukraine “can count on the support of the UK and Poland for as long as it takes”, according to a Number 10 spokesperson.
Earlier on the trip, the prime minister had to visit Auschwitz, and reiterated his determination to fight the “poison of antisemitism”.
