Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the UK's Labour Party, has declared his intention to pursue a "significantly improved" Brexit agreement with the EU in the event of a Labour victory in the upcoming

general election.

Speaking at a gathering of center-left leaders in Montreal, Canada, Starmer expressed his dissatisfaction with the current Brexit deal, set for review in 2025, deeming it "insufficient."

However, he unequivocally ruled out rejoining the customs union, the single market, or the EU.

It remains uncertain whether Brussels would entertain substantial modifications to the deal, originally brokered by former Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson in 2021.

A spokesperson for the Conservative Party criticized Starmer, asserting that his approach would "reset the Brexit debate, reopening past disputes."

Starmer has consistently affirmed that his party's objective is not to rejoin the EU but rather to "make Brexit work." Labour has consistently held a substantial lead in political opinion polls, with a general election expected in 2024.

"Almost everyone acknowledges that the deal negotiated by Johnson falls short – it lacks depth," he remarked to the Financial Times.

"As we approach 2025, we will endeavor to secure a substantially improved deal for the UK," he affirmed, although he did not specify which aspects of the deal he aimed to enhance.

Starmer expressed confidence in the ability to negotiate a superior agreement with Brussels, along with a "closer trade relationship."

"We must ensure its success. This isn't about re-entry; rather, I refuse to accept that we cannot make it work," he said, emphasizing his concern for "future generations."

"As a father, I say this. I have a 15-year-old son and a 12-year-old daughter. I won't allow them to grow up in a world where my message about their future is that it will be worse than it could have been otherwise. I am utterly committed to making this succeed."

A Conservative Party spokesperson accused Starmer of shifting his stance, stating, "Three years ago, he pledged not to seek substantial changes to the UK's new relationship with the EU, but his latest short-term position suggests otherwise. What concessions would Keir Starmer be willing to make to the EU to renegotiate our relationship?"

Over the weekend, Sir Keir held meetings with fellow center-left leaders, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. He is also scheduled to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris later this week, with post-Brexit relations anticipated as a prominent topic of discussion.

Last week, he visited The Hague, the Netherlands, to engage with the EU's law enforcement agency Europol, aiming to establish an agreement to combat smuggling rings transporting individuals across the English Channel in small boats. This led to allegations by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Home Secretary Suella Braverman that his party intended to permit the UK to become a "dumping ground" for 100,000 migrants from the continent each year—a claim he dismissed as "baseless." Photo by Rwendland, Wikimedia commons.