We won’t undo Brexit, Labour insists after Starmer remarks

Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform, told Sky News that the comments went further than what Starmer had said previously, and that Brexiteers might question the point of leaving the EU if the UK does not significantly deregulate.

“He’s trying to soften up the other world leaders, so they know what to expect when he becomes prime minister, if he does,” he said.

Asked if he was surprised by Starmer’s comments, he said: “I don’t know whether it was intended or not, and maybe it just slipped out late on the Saturday evening.

“The fact that he hasn’t said anything quite similar in the UK is perhaps telling. Maybe what he thinks is that we shouldn’t diverge too much with the EU because he understands instinctively that it’s actually bad for businesses.”