Keir Starmer faces Labor backlash over Brexit over pledge to stay outside EU

Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer says he is determined to fix Brexit, not return to the EU Credit: PA/Robert Perry

Sir Keir Starmer has faced backlash from those remaining in the Labor Party after insisting that the UK's future lies outside the EU.

On Wednesday, the party leader announced his firm intention not to return the UK to the bloc. He insisted that the debate about whether to return to the Single Market or the Customs Union «is a thing of the past, where it belongs.»

Sir Keir promised in the Daily Express that he would lead the government «with a vision and focus» to «make Brexit work.»

But the remarks have drawn instant ire from the remaining MPs and Labor Party activists who want him to take a much more pro-European stance.

Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, said: “Don't believe the hype — the British public knows Brexit won't work. They are not interested in holding 2016 again. They want to take immediate action to address the problems it creates for British businesses and workers and will vote for it!”

She is the National Chair of the Labor Movement for Europe. , a pro-EU organization that is officially affiliated with the party.

A poll released by the group shortly after Sir Caree's speech showed that Labor risked losing votes due to its hardline stance on Brexit.

Rosie Duffield, MP for Canterbury, shared an article about the poll titled «Labor faces loss of votes because they are too supportive of Brexit, lead poll warns.”

Alastair Campbell, a former Labor political strategist, said the slogan «make Brexit work» should be «put in Labour's basket» by Sir Keir. they want,” he added. .

In his column, Sir Keir said that while «it's no big secret that I voted to stay,» he found «a lot to agree with those who voted to leave.”

“Regardless of how people voted, they wanted better health care, better jobs, better wages, more security, a sense of control over their lives and their community,” he wrote.

“If we want For Brexit to work, we need a government with the vision and commitment to make it happen. Let me put it simply.

“The future of the UK is outside the EU. Not to the single market, not to the Customs Union, not to a return to freedom of movement. These disputes are in the past, where they belong.”

The Conservatives accused Sir Keir, who campaigned for a second referendum before taking the lead, of Brexit fraud.

A Conservative spokesman said: «Slippery Starmer will say anything if politics suits him — the British people cannot trust in his words.

“He was elected on the basis of a manifesto that promised to respect the referendum, then voted against it 48 times and campaigned to overturn the results. Only the Conservatives can be trusted to reap the benefits of Brexit and realize the priorities of the people.”

This comes after new polls showed a third of voters believe the UK will return to the EU within the next two decades. A poll by YouGov showed that more than a quarter of those who voted to leave believe the referendum decision will be overturned by 2043.

Overall, only 46% of the population believe that the UK will still be out of the bloc by then. The poll also showed that voters are unsure about Sir Keir's position on Brexit, with 44% saying they don't know his position.