Britain's new Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, pledged on Monday to negotiate a better post-Brexit trade agreement with the European Union, criticizing the previous deal signed by Boris Johnson as 'botched.' Speaking in Belfast following discussions with Northern Ireland's leaders, where Brexit trade rules have been a contentious issue for years, Starmer emphasized that his government must first adhere to the existing agreement to regain trust with the EU.
'We believe we can secure a more favorable deal than the one Boris Johnson negotiated, and we are committed to achieving that,' Starmer stated, fresh from his recent landslide victory. 'Improving our relationship with the EU requires demonstrating our dedication to the current agreements,' he further explained.
While the Labour Party has rejected rejoining the EU single market or customs union, it acknowledges the potential to reduce certain trade barriers with the 27-nation bloc, from which Britain departed in 2020. Northern Ireland's largest pro-British party lifted its boycott of the regional assembly after modifications to trade rules were made by former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in February, yet it continues to advocate for further adjustments.
Regarding the possibility of a referendum on a united Ireland, following Sinn Fein's rise as the largest party in the province's parliament, Starmer affirmed his commitment to the principles of the Good Friday Agreement, the 1998 peace accord that concluded decades of sectarian conflict. According to the agreement, a referendum on Northern Ireland's status can be called by the British government if the minister believes a majority would support severing ties with London.
Starmer, who had visited Edinburgh the previous day, is continuing his post-election tour of the UK's four nations with a planned stop in Cardiff later on Monday.
