Labour leadership frontrunner Sir Keir Starmer refuses to rule out rejoining EU in future
LABOUR leadership frontrunner Sir Keir Starmer refuses to rule out rejoining the EU in future.
The millionaire shadow Brexit Secretary said the issue was for future generations, but admitted it was not a “priority for now and the immediate future”.
Speaking at a hustings, he said: “It’s for our kids to decide what our future relationship is.”
Mr Starmer was the only candidate not to rule out campaigning to reverse Brexit at the Labour hustings in Dudley.
His comments are a huge u-turn, with Sir Keir previously claiming the question of leaving the EU was settled.
He earlier said: “I don’t think there’s really any question of rejoining the EU. We’ve just left the EU.
"The leave-remain debate is over. The divide is over and we need to let it go. All of us, whichever way we voted.”
A passionate remainer, Sir Keir was key in pushing Labour into backing a second referendum before the election.
Despite the crushing defeat, he told the hustings that the party’s Brexit policy had not been the main factor in the loss.
A former human rights barrister, he once campaigned against the execution of two men sentenced to hang for murdering a former BBC newsreader and her family in Trinidad in 2001.
Rebecca Long-Bailey asked the other candidates herself, and ruled it out.
She said: "I don't think we should campaign to rejoin the EU.
"It would be absolutely disastrous and think we should be setting out a positive vision now of what Britain looks like outside of the EU.
MOST READ
Lisa Nandy said: “I’d rule it out. We haven’t got the option, we’ve lost that right because we didn’t take the deal that ticked every box that we had about protecting close economic and political cooperation.”
Members are currently voting for the candidates, with the winner announced on April 4.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368 . You can WhatsApp us on 07810 791 502. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.